Green green grass

The secret to Ireland's premium dairy products: sustainability, nature, and quality

- BY AMY VAN

The ‘European Dairy – Where Nature Meets Science’ campaign, which will kick off in June 2025, aims to position the European Union as a leader in the supply of value-add dairy ingredients to specialized nutrition manufacturing sectors across China, Singapore and Vietnam, three priority Asian markets with a combined dairy import value of €16.2 billion per annum. Recently the European Union awarded a new €3.2 million contract to Bord Bia Irish Food Board to promote dairy in Asia for three years (on behalf of the European Union).

Bord Bia’s Origin Green Programme is the world’s one and only nationally accredited sustainability programme. Currently, there are more than 16,000 dairy farms under the Origin Green sustainability programme ensuring strict regular audits, while assuring transparency consumers.

Known for exceptional milk, butter and cheese, Irish dairy is synonymous with quality. What exactly makes Ireland’s dairy so special? The answer lies in its unique combination of natural resources, sustainable farming practices, and a climate ideally suited for dairy production.

A grass-based system

At the heart of Ireland’s dairy excellence is its grass-based farming system. Over 81% of the country’s agricultural land is devoted to pasture, hay, or silage, providing an abundant and natural food source for the dairy herds. With 6.9 million hectares of grasslands, Ireland’s pastures are the ideal environment for cows to graze on fresh, nutritious grass for the majority of the year.

Why is grass so important? Grass-fed dairy has higher levels of beneficial nutrients compared to indoor-based dairy. Grass-fed cows produce milk with higher concentrations of healthy fats and omega-3 fatty acids, which contribute to the superior quality of Irish dairy products. This natural diet results in richer, creamier milk, which is perfect for making butter, cheese, and other dairy derivatives.