Most Irish beef, lamb, pork, and dairy produce is still made from livestock fed on imported genetically modified (GM) feedstuffs, especially GM soy, despite scientific evidence of its health and environmental damage, and growing rejection of such produce by leading EU food brands and retailers. Ireland's animal feed importers repeat the lie that certified Non-GMO soy and maize are either unavailable or prohibitively expensive.
Meanwhile across Europe, more competitive farmers, dozens of major retailers like Carrefour (the EU's largest), and hundreds of quality food brands are phasing out or banning the use of GM animal feed in response to consumer demand for a safe GM-free food chain, quality agriculture, fair trade, and corporate social responsibility. Brazil alone can supply the entire European need for soya meal with Non-GMO feed certified at less than 0.01% contamination, and Europe's maize crop is 99% GM-free. So why are our farmers being deprived of GM-free feed, when Ireland could capitalise on our clean green image to produce the most credible GM-free food brand in Europe?
This section of our web site separates fact from fiction in the fog of disinformation and propaganda which characterises the transnational corporate war to control the world food supply through industrial corporate agribusiness and patented GM crops.
Availability of GM-free animal feed:
Cert ID certified Non-GMO soybean meal and other soy products
Volumes available from South America and worldwide:
Published by Cert ID, 26 October 2011: download
Willow Farm Organics in Boyle, Co. Roscommon, has informed us that they provide organic and Non-GMO feed for poultry, cattle, sheep and pigs throughout Ireland. They can be reached on (071) 964 6942, mobile 086 810 1409, email: info@organicanimalfeeds.ie, website: www.organicanimalfeeds.ie
GM-free Irish label good for business: Added value, increased market share, better branding and unique selling point: the most credible GM-free food brand in Europe. GM-free Ireland Network press release, 17 November 2009. Download
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GM-free production: a unique selling point for Ireland - the food island. 47-page briefing with GM-free market survey, 17 Nov. 2009 (1.2MB pdf). Download
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Video: GM-free food production: a unique selling point for Ireland - the food island: 17 November 2009 press conference on the business case for Ireland's GM-free label, with Richard Corrigan (Michelin star chef and TV host), Darina Allen (Slow Food Ireland, Good Food Ireland, Free Choice Consumer Group, Artisan Food Forum, and the Farmers Market movement), Malcolm Thompson (Irish Cattle and Sheepfarmers Association), Evan Doyle (the Taste Council, Organic Trust and Euro-Toques Ireland), Dr. John Fagan (Cert ID), and Michael O'Callaghan (GM-free Ireland):
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The transition to GM-free meat and dairy production in Ireland – the food island:
Presentation to the Second International Non-GMO Soy Summit, Brussels, 7-9 October 2008. By Michael O'Callaghan, Co-ordinator, GM-free Ireland Network. Download (1.9MB): http://www.gmfreeireland.org/feed/documents/SoySummit2/GMFI-SoySummit2008.pdf
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Proceedings of the Second International Non-GMO Soy Summit
Strategic alliances for sustainable, responsible, Non-GMO soy. Brussels, 7-9 October 2008: http://www.nongmosoysummit.com
Ecological Footprint Analysis: interview with Dr. Mathis Wackernagel
Global Vision interview by Michael O'Callaghan, United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, 2002: http://www.global-vision.org/interviews/wackernagel.php
