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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260515
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260525
DTSTAMP:20260427T142754
CREATED:20260324T170544Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T104146Z
UID:20204-1778803200-1779667199@talamhbeo.ie
SUMMARY:National Biodiversity Week
DESCRIPTION:Reclaiming Local Meat Processing – Supporting Small-Scale\, Community-Led Abattoirs in Ireland\nSummary\nIreland’s small-scale abattoir network has been in slow collapse for decades — a crisis driven by structural neglect\, centralisation\, and an export-first agricultural model. This decline blocks farmers from supplying local markets\, undermines animal welfare\, and concentrates power in the hands of a few large processors. Talamh Beo is calling for a new national framework to support low-throughput\, community-based abattoirs and mobile slaughter facilities. These are essential to realising food sovereignty\, reducing emissions\, and restoring farmer and community control over food systems. \n \nThe Problem\n1. Chronic Loss of Local Infrastructure\nThe decline of small abattoirs has been unfolding over decades. Ireland’s meat processing sector has become highly centralised\, with regulations and funding systems favouring large-scale\, export-oriented operations. This has made it virtually impossible for new or existing small abattoirs to survive. Poultry and pig producers are especially affected\, but the impact is now being felt across beef and lamb sectors as well. \n2. Farmer Dependence on a Small Number of Processors\nMany farmers selling directly to consumers rely on just one or two abattoirs. If these close\, are fully booked\, or raise prices\, farmers lose their market access overnight. This concentration of processing power increases costs\, adds uncertainty\, and severely limits autonomy for small-scale and agroecological producers. \n3. Longer Livestock Journeys and Poorer Welfare Outcomes\nThe loss of local slaughter options means animals travel further\, often for hours\, increasing stress\, emissions\, and cost. This undermines farmers’ commitments to animal welfare and removes the possibility of a calm and dignified “good death” for livestock raised with care. \n4. One-Size-Fits-All Regulation\nRegulatory systems treat all meat processors the same\, applying rules designed for export-scale factories to community-level or farm-based operations. Licensing\, food safety\, and planning rules impose disproportionate burdens\, effectively criminalising small abattoirs and deterring new ones from opening. \n5. Export-Oriented System Disconnects Farmers and Communities\nIreland exports the majority of its beef and lamb\, and is a net exporter of pork by volume. Yet at the same time\, we import large volumes of pork and poultry products\, especially processed and retail-ready goods. \n\nIn 2023\, Ireland had a pork self-sufficiency rate of 198%\, meaning we produced nearly twice as much pork as we consumed domestically. However\, Ireland still imported over 90\,000 tonnes of pork products\, often cheaper\, processed cuts such as sausages\, rashers\, and hams from countries like Denmark\, the Netherlands\, and Germany (CSO Meat Supply Balance 2023\, Trendeconomy: Ireland pork imports).\nSimilarly\, Ireland imported over 144\,000 tonnes of poultry meat in 2023. The poultry self-sufficiency rate was just 71%\, indicating significant reliance on imports (CSO Meat Supply Balance 2023\, Trendeconomy: Ireland poultry imports).\n\nThis creates the absurd situation where farmers produce food for export but can’t access\, process\, or sell their own meat locally. Farmers are locked into global supply chains that send their produce abroad\, while imported products return to fill supermarket shelves. \nThis situation highlights the economic and ecological absurdity of the current model: \n\nFarmers are price-takers in global markets\,\nLocal processing options are vanishing\,\nAnd communities are increasingly disconnected from local food production.\n\nOur Vision: A Rebirth of Local Meat Systems\nTalamh Beo envisions a decentralised network of low-impact\, high-welfare\, small-scale abattoirs embedded in rural communities. These should include: \n\nOn-farm slaughter and processing facilities for direct sales.\nMobile abattoirs\, especially for poultry and pigs.\nCommunity- and co-op-run local abattoirs\, backed by public investment.\nProcessing infrastructure embedded in short supply chains\, feeding local schools\, shops\, co-ops\, and households.\n\nThis is not just about logistics — it’s about power. Restoring small-scale slaughter is essential to reclaiming food systems from the grip of corporate consolidation and re-rooting them in the land\, the people who farm it\, and the communities who eat from it. \nPolicy Recommendations\nWe call on the Irish Government — especially DAFM\, the Department of Health\, and the Department of Rural and Community Development — to urgently take the following steps: \n1. Establish a New Legal Category for Small-Scale\, Low-Throughput Abattoirs\n\nCreate a proportionate regulatory framework distinct from industrial meat plants.\nAllow for local\, low-volume processing with simplified inspection and compliance procedures.\n\n2. Fund Community-Led Infrastructure\n\nLaunch a Small Abattoir Infrastructure Fund to refurbish\, reopen\, or establish new facilities.\nProvide capital grants and zero-interest loans for abattoir development\, prioritising farmer co-ops and communities.\n\n3. Pilot and Scale Mobile Units\n\nInvest in mobile abattoirs for poultry\, pigs\, and lamb — already in use across the EU.\nPilot in remote and underserved counties with direct farmer involvement.\n\n4. Provide Technical Support and Advisory Services\n\nSet up a dedicated Small Abattoir Taskforce with expertise in licensing\, hygiene\, planning\, and training.\nFund hands-on training in slaughter skills\, butchery\, and ethical meat processing.\n\n5. Ensure Planning and Zoning Supports for Small Facilities\n\nIntroduce planning exemptions or favourable zoning for low-impact\, farm-scale facilities.\nProvide “fast-track” licensing for abattoirs under defined size and output thresholds.\n\nConclusion\nA resilient\, ethical\, and community-embedded meat system cannot exist without small-scale\, local abattoirs. These facilities are the missing link in Ireland’s food sovereignty strategy. Without them\, farmers will remain locked into an exploitative\, extractive model that exports quality produce while denying communities the right to eat from their own land. \nWe cannot grow a healthy food system when the means of production\, processing and distribution are held far from the people and places they serve. It’s time to bring them home. \n \nTalamh Beo – Farming for the FutureWebsite: www.talamhbeo.ieEmail: info@talamhbeo.ie
URL:https://talamhbeo.ie/event/national-biodiversity-week-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260519T153000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260519T163000
DTSTAMP:20260427T142755
CREATED:20260324T165949Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T155144Z
UID:20184-1779204600-1779208200@talamhbeo.ie
SUMMARY:SLFE Webinar
DESCRIPTION:Reclaiming Local Meat Processing – Supporting Small-Scale\, Community-Led Abattoirs in Ireland\nSummary\nIreland’s small-scale abattoir network has been in slow collapse for decades — a crisis driven by structural neglect\, centralisation\, and an export-first agricultural model. This decline blocks farmers from supplying local markets\, undermines animal welfare\, and concentrates power in the hands of a few large processors. Talamh Beo is calling for a new national framework to support low-throughput\, community-based abattoirs and mobile slaughter facilities. These are essential to realising food sovereignty\, reducing emissions\, and restoring farmer and community control over food systems. \n \nThe Problem\n1. Chronic Loss of Local Infrastructure\nThe decline of small abattoirs has been unfolding over decades. Ireland’s meat processing sector has become highly centralised\, with regulations and funding systems favouring large-scale\, export-oriented operations. This has made it virtually impossible for new or existing small abattoirs to survive. Poultry and pig producers are especially affected\, but the impact is now being felt across beef and lamb sectors as well. \n2. Farmer Dependence on a Small Number of Processors\nMany farmers selling directly to consumers rely on just one or two abattoirs. If these close\, are fully booked\, or raise prices\, farmers lose their market access overnight. This concentration of processing power increases costs\, adds uncertainty\, and severely limits autonomy for small-scale and agroecological producers. \n3. Longer Livestock Journeys and Poorer Welfare Outcomes\nThe loss of local slaughter options means animals travel further\, often for hours\, increasing stress\, emissions\, and cost. This undermines farmers’ commitments to animal welfare and removes the possibility of a calm and dignified “good death” for livestock raised with care. \n4. One-Size-Fits-All Regulation\nRegulatory systems treat all meat processors the same\, applying rules designed for export-scale factories to community-level or farm-based operations. Licensing\, food safety\, and planning rules impose disproportionate burdens\, effectively criminalising small abattoirs and deterring new ones from opening. \n5. Export-Oriented System Disconnects Farmers and Communities\nIreland exports the majority of its beef and lamb\, and is a net exporter of pork by volume. Yet at the same time\, we import large volumes of pork and poultry products\, especially processed and retail-ready goods. \n\nIn 2023\, Ireland had a pork self-sufficiency rate of 198%\, meaning we produced nearly twice as much pork as we consumed domestically. However\, Ireland still imported over 90\,000 tonnes of pork products\, often cheaper\, processed cuts such as sausages\, rashers\, and hams from countries like Denmark\, the Netherlands\, and Germany (CSO Meat Supply Balance 2023\, Trendeconomy: Ireland pork imports).\nSimilarly\, Ireland imported over 144\,000 tonnes of poultry meat in 2023. The poultry self-sufficiency rate was just 71%\, indicating significant reliance on imports (CSO Meat Supply Balance 2023\, Trendeconomy: Ireland poultry imports).\n\nThis creates the absurd situation where farmers produce food for export but can’t access\, process\, or sell their own meat locally. Farmers are locked into global supply chains that send their produce abroad\, while imported products return to fill supermarket shelves. \nThis situation highlights the economic and ecological absurdity of the current model: \n\nFarmers are price-takers in global markets\,\nLocal processing options are vanishing\,\nAnd communities are increasingly disconnected from local food production.\n\nOur Vision: A Rebirth of Local Meat Systems\nTalamh Beo envisions a decentralised network of low-impact\, high-welfare\, small-scale abattoirs embedded in rural communities. These should include: \n\nOn-farm slaughter and processing facilities for direct sales.\nMobile abattoirs\, especially for poultry and pigs.\nCommunity- and co-op-run local abattoirs\, backed by public investment.\nProcessing infrastructure embedded in short supply chains\, feeding local schools\, shops\, co-ops\, and households.\n\nThis is not just about logistics — it’s about power. Restoring small-scale slaughter is essential to reclaiming food systems from the grip of corporate consolidation and re-rooting them in the land\, the people who farm it\, and the communities who eat from it. \nPolicy Recommendations\nWe call on the Irish Government — especially DAFM\, the Department of Health\, and the Department of Rural and Community Development — to urgently take the following steps: \n1. Establish a New Legal Category for Small-Scale\, Low-Throughput Abattoirs\n\nCreate a proportionate regulatory framework distinct from industrial meat plants.\nAllow for local\, low-volume processing with simplified inspection and compliance procedures.\n\n2. Fund Community-Led Infrastructure\n\nLaunch a Small Abattoir Infrastructure Fund to refurbish\, reopen\, or establish new facilities.\nProvide capital grants and zero-interest loans for abattoir development\, prioritising farmer co-ops and communities.\n\n3. Pilot and Scale Mobile Units\n\nInvest in mobile abattoirs for poultry\, pigs\, and lamb — already in use across the EU.\nPilot in remote and underserved counties with direct farmer involvement.\n\n4. Provide Technical Support and Advisory Services\n\nSet up a dedicated Small Abattoir Taskforce with expertise in licensing\, hygiene\, planning\, and training.\nFund hands-on training in slaughter skills\, butchery\, and ethical meat processing.\n\n5. Ensure Planning and Zoning Supports for Small Facilities\n\nIntroduce planning exemptions or favourable zoning for low-impact\, farm-scale facilities.\nProvide “fast-track” licensing for abattoirs under defined size and output thresholds.\n\nConclusion\nA resilient\, ethical\, and community-embedded meat system cannot exist without small-scale\, local abattoirs. These facilities are the missing link in Ireland’s food sovereignty strategy. Without them\, farmers will remain locked into an exploitative\, extractive model that exports quality produce while denying communities the right to eat from their own land. \nWe cannot grow a healthy food system when the means of production\, processing and distribution are held far from the people and places they serve. It’s time to bring them home. \n \nTalamh Beo – Farming for the FutureWebsite: www.talamhbeo.ieEmail: info@talamhbeo.ie
URL:https://talamhbeo.ie/event/slfe-webinar/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260605
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260608
DTSTAMP:20260427T142755
CREATED:20260324T165950Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260331T143056Z
UID:20185-1780617600-1780876799@talamhbeo.ie
SUMMARY:Talamh Beo x Gluaiseacht Youth Field School
DESCRIPTION:Reclaiming Local Meat Processing – Supporting Small-Scale\, Community-Led Abattoirs in Ireland\nSummary\nIreland’s small-scale abattoir network has been in slow collapse for decades — a crisis driven by structural neglect\, centralisation\, and an export-first agricultural model. This decline blocks farmers from supplying local markets\, undermines animal welfare\, and concentrates power in the hands of a few large processors. Talamh Beo is calling for a new national framework to support low-throughput\, community-based abattoirs and mobile slaughter facilities. These are essential to realising food sovereignty\, reducing emissions\, and restoring farmer and community control over food systems. \n \nThe Problem\n1. Chronic Loss of Local Infrastructure\nThe decline of small abattoirs has been unfolding over decades. Ireland’s meat processing sector has become highly centralised\, with regulations and funding systems favouring large-scale\, export-oriented operations. This has made it virtually impossible for new or existing small abattoirs to survive. Poultry and pig producers are especially affected\, but the impact is now being felt across beef and lamb sectors as well. \n2. Farmer Dependence on a Small Number of Processors\nMany farmers selling directly to consumers rely on just one or two abattoirs. If these close\, are fully booked\, or raise prices\, farmers lose their market access overnight. This concentration of processing power increases costs\, adds uncertainty\, and severely limits autonomy for small-scale and agroecological producers. \n3. Longer Livestock Journeys and Poorer Welfare Outcomes\nThe loss of local slaughter options means animals travel further\, often for hours\, increasing stress\, emissions\, and cost. This undermines farmers’ commitments to animal welfare and removes the possibility of a calm and dignified “good death” for livestock raised with care. \n4. One-Size-Fits-All Regulation\nRegulatory systems treat all meat processors the same\, applying rules designed for export-scale factories to community-level or farm-based operations. Licensing\, food safety\, and planning rules impose disproportionate burdens\, effectively criminalising small abattoirs and deterring new ones from opening. \n5. Export-Oriented System Disconnects Farmers and Communities\nIreland exports the majority of its beef and lamb\, and is a net exporter of pork by volume. Yet at the same time\, we import large volumes of pork and poultry products\, especially processed and retail-ready goods. \n\nIn 2023\, Ireland had a pork self-sufficiency rate of 198%\, meaning we produced nearly twice as much pork as we consumed domestically. However\, Ireland still imported over 90\,000 tonnes of pork products\, often cheaper\, processed cuts such as sausages\, rashers\, and hams from countries like Denmark\, the Netherlands\, and Germany (CSO Meat Supply Balance 2023\, Trendeconomy: Ireland pork imports).\nSimilarly\, Ireland imported over 144\,000 tonnes of poultry meat in 2023. The poultry self-sufficiency rate was just 71%\, indicating significant reliance on imports (CSO Meat Supply Balance 2023\, Trendeconomy: Ireland poultry imports).\n\nThis creates the absurd situation where farmers produce food for export but can’t access\, process\, or sell their own meat locally. Farmers are locked into global supply chains that send their produce abroad\, while imported products return to fill supermarket shelves. \nThis situation highlights the economic and ecological absurdity of the current model: \n\nFarmers are price-takers in global markets\,\nLocal processing options are vanishing\,\nAnd communities are increasingly disconnected from local food production.\n\nOur Vision: A Rebirth of Local Meat Systems\nTalamh Beo envisions a decentralised network of low-impact\, high-welfare\, small-scale abattoirs embedded in rural communities. These should include: \n\nOn-farm slaughter and processing facilities for direct sales.\nMobile abattoirs\, especially for poultry and pigs.\nCommunity- and co-op-run local abattoirs\, backed by public investment.\nProcessing infrastructure embedded in short supply chains\, feeding local schools\, shops\, co-ops\, and households.\n\nThis is not just about logistics — it’s about power. Restoring small-scale slaughter is essential to reclaiming food systems from the grip of corporate consolidation and re-rooting them in the land\, the people who farm it\, and the communities who eat from it. \nPolicy Recommendations\nWe call on the Irish Government — especially DAFM\, the Department of Health\, and the Department of Rural and Community Development — to urgently take the following steps: \n1. Establish a New Legal Category for Small-Scale\, Low-Throughput Abattoirs\n\nCreate a proportionate regulatory framework distinct from industrial meat plants.\nAllow for local\, low-volume processing with simplified inspection and compliance procedures.\n\n2. Fund Community-Led Infrastructure\n\nLaunch a Small Abattoir Infrastructure Fund to refurbish\, reopen\, or establish new facilities.\nProvide capital grants and zero-interest loans for abattoir development\, prioritising farmer co-ops and communities.\n\n3. Pilot and Scale Mobile Units\n\nInvest in mobile abattoirs for poultry\, pigs\, and lamb — already in use across the EU.\nPilot in remote and underserved counties with direct farmer involvement.\n\n4. Provide Technical Support and Advisory Services\n\nSet up a dedicated Small Abattoir Taskforce with expertise in licensing\, hygiene\, planning\, and training.\nFund hands-on training in slaughter skills\, butchery\, and ethical meat processing.\n\n5. Ensure Planning and Zoning Supports for Small Facilities\n\nIntroduce planning exemptions or favourable zoning for low-impact\, farm-scale facilities.\nProvide “fast-track” licensing for abattoirs under defined size and output thresholds.\n\nConclusion\nA resilient\, ethical\, and community-embedded meat system cannot exist without small-scale\, local abattoirs. These facilities are the missing link in Ireland’s food sovereignty strategy. Without them\, farmers will remain locked into an exploitative\, extractive model that exports quality produce while denying communities the right to eat from their own land. \nWe cannot grow a healthy food system when the means of production\, processing and distribution are held far from the people and places they serve. It’s time to bring them home. \n \nTalamh Beo – Farming for the FutureWebsite: www.talamhbeo.ieEmail: info@talamhbeo.ie
URL:https://talamhbeo.ie/event/talamh-og-field-school/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260622
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260624
DTSTAMP:20260427T142755
CREATED:20260324T170545Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260324T171250Z
UID:20201-1782086400-1782259199@talamhbeo.ie
SUMMARY:Farming for Nature
DESCRIPTION:Reclaiming Local Meat Processing – Supporting Small-Scale\, Community-Led Abattoirs in Ireland\nSummary\nIreland’s small-scale abattoir network has been in slow collapse for decades — a crisis driven by structural neglect\, centralisation\, and an export-first agricultural model. This decline blocks farmers from supplying local markets\, undermines animal welfare\, and concentrates power in the hands of a few large processors. Talamh Beo is calling for a new national framework to support low-throughput\, community-based abattoirs and mobile slaughter facilities. These are essential to realising food sovereignty\, reducing emissions\, and restoring farmer and community control over food systems. \n \nThe Problem\n1. Chronic Loss of Local Infrastructure\nThe decline of small abattoirs has been unfolding over decades. Ireland’s meat processing sector has become highly centralised\, with regulations and funding systems favouring large-scale\, export-oriented operations. This has made it virtually impossible for new or existing small abattoirs to survive. Poultry and pig producers are especially affected\, but the impact is now being felt across beef and lamb sectors as well. \n2. Farmer Dependence on a Small Number of Processors\nMany farmers selling directly to consumers rely on just one or two abattoirs. If these close\, are fully booked\, or raise prices\, farmers lose their market access overnight. This concentration of processing power increases costs\, adds uncertainty\, and severely limits autonomy for small-scale and agroecological producers. \n3. Longer Livestock Journeys and Poorer Welfare Outcomes\nThe loss of local slaughter options means animals travel further\, often for hours\, increasing stress\, emissions\, and cost. This undermines farmers’ commitments to animal welfare and removes the possibility of a calm and dignified “good death” for livestock raised with care. \n4. One-Size-Fits-All Regulation\nRegulatory systems treat all meat processors the same\, applying rules designed for export-scale factories to community-level or farm-based operations. Licensing\, food safety\, and planning rules impose disproportionate burdens\, effectively criminalising small abattoirs and deterring new ones from opening. \n5. Export-Oriented System Disconnects Farmers and Communities\nIreland exports the majority of its beef and lamb\, and is a net exporter of pork by volume. Yet at the same time\, we import large volumes of pork and poultry products\, especially processed and retail-ready goods. \n\nIn 2023\, Ireland had a pork self-sufficiency rate of 198%\, meaning we produced nearly twice as much pork as we consumed domestically. However\, Ireland still imported over 90\,000 tonnes of pork products\, often cheaper\, processed cuts such as sausages\, rashers\, and hams from countries like Denmark\, the Netherlands\, and Germany (CSO Meat Supply Balance 2023\, Trendeconomy: Ireland pork imports).\nSimilarly\, Ireland imported over 144\,000 tonnes of poultry meat in 2023. The poultry self-sufficiency rate was just 71%\, indicating significant reliance on imports (CSO Meat Supply Balance 2023\, Trendeconomy: Ireland poultry imports).\n\nThis creates the absurd situation where farmers produce food for export but can’t access\, process\, or sell their own meat locally. Farmers are locked into global supply chains that send their produce abroad\, while imported products return to fill supermarket shelves. \nThis situation highlights the economic and ecological absurdity of the current model: \n\nFarmers are price-takers in global markets\,\nLocal processing options are vanishing\,\nAnd communities are increasingly disconnected from local food production.\n\nOur Vision: A Rebirth of Local Meat Systems\nTalamh Beo envisions a decentralised network of low-impact\, high-welfare\, small-scale abattoirs embedded in rural communities. These should include: \n\nOn-farm slaughter and processing facilities for direct sales.\nMobile abattoirs\, especially for poultry and pigs.\nCommunity- and co-op-run local abattoirs\, backed by public investment.\nProcessing infrastructure embedded in short supply chains\, feeding local schools\, shops\, co-ops\, and households.\n\nThis is not just about logistics — it’s about power. Restoring small-scale slaughter is essential to reclaiming food systems from the grip of corporate consolidation and re-rooting them in the land\, the people who farm it\, and the communities who eat from it. \nPolicy Recommendations\nWe call on the Irish Government — especially DAFM\, the Department of Health\, and the Department of Rural and Community Development — to urgently take the following steps: \n1. Establish a New Legal Category for Small-Scale\, Low-Throughput Abattoirs\n\nCreate a proportionate regulatory framework distinct from industrial meat plants.\nAllow for local\, low-volume processing with simplified inspection and compliance procedures.\n\n2. Fund Community-Led Infrastructure\n\nLaunch a Small Abattoir Infrastructure Fund to refurbish\, reopen\, or establish new facilities.\nProvide capital grants and zero-interest loans for abattoir development\, prioritising farmer co-ops and communities.\n\n3. Pilot and Scale Mobile Units\n\nInvest in mobile abattoirs for poultry\, pigs\, and lamb — already in use across the EU.\nPilot in remote and underserved counties with direct farmer involvement.\n\n4. Provide Technical Support and Advisory Services\n\nSet up a dedicated Small Abattoir Taskforce with expertise in licensing\, hygiene\, planning\, and training.\nFund hands-on training in slaughter skills\, butchery\, and ethical meat processing.\n\n5. Ensure Planning and Zoning Supports for Small Facilities\n\nIntroduce planning exemptions or favourable zoning for low-impact\, farm-scale facilities.\nProvide “fast-track” licensing for abattoirs under defined size and output thresholds.\n\nConclusion\nA resilient\, ethical\, and community-embedded meat system cannot exist without small-scale\, local abattoirs. These facilities are the missing link in Ireland’s food sovereignty strategy. Without them\, farmers will remain locked into an exploitative\, extractive model that exports quality produce while denying communities the right to eat from their own land. \nWe cannot grow a healthy food system when the means of production\, processing and distribution are held far from the people and places they serve. It’s time to bring them home. \n \nTalamh Beo – Farming for the FutureWebsite: www.talamhbeo.ieEmail: info@talamhbeo.ie
URL:https://talamhbeo.ie/event/farming-for-nature/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260709
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260711
DTSTAMP:20260427T142755
CREATED:20260324T172008Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260324T172008Z
UID:20226-1783555200-1783727999@talamhbeo.ie
SUMMARY:The Mary Robinson Climate and Nature Conference 2026
DESCRIPTION:Reclaiming Local Meat Processing – Supporting Small-Scale\, Community-Led Abattoirs in Ireland\nSummary\nIreland’s small-scale abattoir network has been in slow collapse for decades — a crisis driven by structural neglect\, centralisation\, and an export-first agricultural model. This decline blocks farmers from supplying local markets\, undermines animal welfare\, and concentrates power in the hands of a few large processors. Talamh Beo is calling for a new national framework to support low-throughput\, community-based abattoirs and mobile slaughter facilities. These are essential to realising food sovereignty\, reducing emissions\, and restoring farmer and community control over food systems. \n \nThe Problem\n1. Chronic Loss of Local Infrastructure\nThe decline of small abattoirs has been unfolding over decades. Ireland’s meat processing sector has become highly centralised\, with regulations and funding systems favouring large-scale\, export-oriented operations. This has made it virtually impossible for new or existing small abattoirs to survive. Poultry and pig producers are especially affected\, but the impact is now being felt across beef and lamb sectors as well. \n2. Farmer Dependence on a Small Number of Processors\nMany farmers selling directly to consumers rely on just one or two abattoirs. If these close\, are fully booked\, or raise prices\, farmers lose their market access overnight. This concentration of processing power increases costs\, adds uncertainty\, and severely limits autonomy for small-scale and agroecological producers. \n3. Longer Livestock Journeys and Poorer Welfare Outcomes\nThe loss of local slaughter options means animals travel further\, often for hours\, increasing stress\, emissions\, and cost. This undermines farmers’ commitments to animal welfare and removes the possibility of a calm and dignified “good death” for livestock raised with care. \n4. One-Size-Fits-All Regulation\nRegulatory systems treat all meat processors the same\, applying rules designed for export-scale factories to community-level or farm-based operations. Licensing\, food safety\, and planning rules impose disproportionate burdens\, effectively criminalising small abattoirs and deterring new ones from opening. \n5. Export-Oriented System Disconnects Farmers and Communities\nIreland exports the majority of its beef and lamb\, and is a net exporter of pork by volume. Yet at the same time\, we import large volumes of pork and poultry products\, especially processed and retail-ready goods. \n\nIn 2023\, Ireland had a pork self-sufficiency rate of 198%\, meaning we produced nearly twice as much pork as we consumed domestically. However\, Ireland still imported over 90\,000 tonnes of pork products\, often cheaper\, processed cuts such as sausages\, rashers\, and hams from countries like Denmark\, the Netherlands\, and Germany (CSO Meat Supply Balance 2023\, Trendeconomy: Ireland pork imports).\nSimilarly\, Ireland imported over 144\,000 tonnes of poultry meat in 2023. The poultry self-sufficiency rate was just 71%\, indicating significant reliance on imports (CSO Meat Supply Balance 2023\, Trendeconomy: Ireland poultry imports).\n\nThis creates the absurd situation where farmers produce food for export but can’t access\, process\, or sell their own meat locally. Farmers are locked into global supply chains that send their produce abroad\, while imported products return to fill supermarket shelves. \nThis situation highlights the economic and ecological absurdity of the current model: \n\nFarmers are price-takers in global markets\,\nLocal processing options are vanishing\,\nAnd communities are increasingly disconnected from local food production.\n\nOur Vision: A Rebirth of Local Meat Systems\nTalamh Beo envisions a decentralised network of low-impact\, high-welfare\, small-scale abattoirs embedded in rural communities. These should include: \n\nOn-farm slaughter and processing facilities for direct sales.\nMobile abattoirs\, especially for poultry and pigs.\nCommunity- and co-op-run local abattoirs\, backed by public investment.\nProcessing infrastructure embedded in short supply chains\, feeding local schools\, shops\, co-ops\, and households.\n\nThis is not just about logistics — it’s about power. Restoring small-scale slaughter is essential to reclaiming food systems from the grip of corporate consolidation and re-rooting them in the land\, the people who farm it\, and the communities who eat from it. \nPolicy Recommendations\nWe call on the Irish Government — especially DAFM\, the Department of Health\, and the Department of Rural and Community Development — to urgently take the following steps: \n1. Establish a New Legal Category for Small-Scale\, Low-Throughput Abattoirs\n\nCreate a proportionate regulatory framework distinct from industrial meat plants.\nAllow for local\, low-volume processing with simplified inspection and compliance procedures.\n\n2. Fund Community-Led Infrastructure\n\nLaunch a Small Abattoir Infrastructure Fund to refurbish\, reopen\, or establish new facilities.\nProvide capital grants and zero-interest loans for abattoir development\, prioritising farmer co-ops and communities.\n\n3. Pilot and Scale Mobile Units\n\nInvest in mobile abattoirs for poultry\, pigs\, and lamb — already in use across the EU.\nPilot in remote and underserved counties with direct farmer involvement.\n\n4. Provide Technical Support and Advisory Services\n\nSet up a dedicated Small Abattoir Taskforce with expertise in licensing\, hygiene\, planning\, and training.\nFund hands-on training in slaughter skills\, butchery\, and ethical meat processing.\n\n5. Ensure Planning and Zoning Supports for Small Facilities\n\nIntroduce planning exemptions or favourable zoning for low-impact\, farm-scale facilities.\nProvide “fast-track” licensing for abattoirs under defined size and output thresholds.\n\nConclusion\nA resilient\, ethical\, and community-embedded meat system cannot exist without small-scale\, local abattoirs. These facilities are the missing link in Ireland’s food sovereignty strategy. Without them\, farmers will remain locked into an exploitative\, extractive model that exports quality produce while denying communities the right to eat from their own land. \nWe cannot grow a healthy food system when the means of production\, processing and distribution are held far from the people and places they serve. It’s time to bring them home. \n \nTalamh Beo – Farming for the FutureWebsite: www.talamhbeo.ieEmail: info@talamhbeo.ie
URL:https://talamhbeo.ie/event/the-mary-robinson-climate-and-nature-conference-2026/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260815
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260824
DTSTAMP:20260427T142755
CREATED:20260324T165950Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260324T171327Z
UID:20187-1786752000-1787529599@talamhbeo.ie
SUMMARY:National Heritage Week
DESCRIPTION:Reclaiming Local Meat Processing – Supporting Small-Scale\, Community-Led Abattoirs in Ireland\nSummary\nIreland’s small-scale abattoir network has been in slow collapse for decades — a crisis driven by structural neglect\, centralisation\, and an export-first agricultural model. This decline blocks farmers from supplying local markets\, undermines animal welfare\, and concentrates power in the hands of a few large processors. Talamh Beo is calling for a new national framework to support low-throughput\, community-based abattoirs and mobile slaughter facilities. These are essential to realising food sovereignty\, reducing emissions\, and restoring farmer and community control over food systems. \n \nThe Problem\n1. Chronic Loss of Local Infrastructure\nThe decline of small abattoirs has been unfolding over decades. Ireland’s meat processing sector has become highly centralised\, with regulations and funding systems favouring large-scale\, export-oriented operations. This has made it virtually impossible for new or existing small abattoirs to survive. Poultry and pig producers are especially affected\, but the impact is now being felt across beef and lamb sectors as well. \n2. Farmer Dependence on a Small Number of Processors\nMany farmers selling directly to consumers rely on just one or two abattoirs. If these close\, are fully booked\, or raise prices\, farmers lose their market access overnight. This concentration of processing power increases costs\, adds uncertainty\, and severely limits autonomy for small-scale and agroecological producers. \n3. Longer Livestock Journeys and Poorer Welfare Outcomes\nThe loss of local slaughter options means animals travel further\, often for hours\, increasing stress\, emissions\, and cost. This undermines farmers’ commitments to animal welfare and removes the possibility of a calm and dignified “good death” for livestock raised with care. \n4. One-Size-Fits-All Regulation\nRegulatory systems treat all meat processors the same\, applying rules designed for export-scale factories to community-level or farm-based operations. Licensing\, food safety\, and planning rules impose disproportionate burdens\, effectively criminalising small abattoirs and deterring new ones from opening. \n5. Export-Oriented System Disconnects Farmers and Communities\nIreland exports the majority of its beef and lamb\, and is a net exporter of pork by volume. Yet at the same time\, we import large volumes of pork and poultry products\, especially processed and retail-ready goods. \n\nIn 2023\, Ireland had a pork self-sufficiency rate of 198%\, meaning we produced nearly twice as much pork as we consumed domestically. However\, Ireland still imported over 90\,000 tonnes of pork products\, often cheaper\, processed cuts such as sausages\, rashers\, and hams from countries like Denmark\, the Netherlands\, and Germany (CSO Meat Supply Balance 2023\, Trendeconomy: Ireland pork imports).\nSimilarly\, Ireland imported over 144\,000 tonnes of poultry meat in 2023. The poultry self-sufficiency rate was just 71%\, indicating significant reliance on imports (CSO Meat Supply Balance 2023\, Trendeconomy: Ireland poultry imports).\n\nThis creates the absurd situation where farmers produce food for export but can’t access\, process\, or sell their own meat locally. Farmers are locked into global supply chains that send their produce abroad\, while imported products return to fill supermarket shelves. \nThis situation highlights the economic and ecological absurdity of the current model: \n\nFarmers are price-takers in global markets\,\nLocal processing options are vanishing\,\nAnd communities are increasingly disconnected from local food production.\n\nOur Vision: A Rebirth of Local Meat Systems\nTalamh Beo envisions a decentralised network of low-impact\, high-welfare\, small-scale abattoirs embedded in rural communities. These should include: \n\nOn-farm slaughter and processing facilities for direct sales.\nMobile abattoirs\, especially for poultry and pigs.\nCommunity- and co-op-run local abattoirs\, backed by public investment.\nProcessing infrastructure embedded in short supply chains\, feeding local schools\, shops\, co-ops\, and households.\n\nThis is not just about logistics — it’s about power. Restoring small-scale slaughter is essential to reclaiming food systems from the grip of corporate consolidation and re-rooting them in the land\, the people who farm it\, and the communities who eat from it. \nPolicy Recommendations\nWe call on the Irish Government — especially DAFM\, the Department of Health\, and the Department of Rural and Community Development — to urgently take the following steps: \n1. Establish a New Legal Category for Small-Scale\, Low-Throughput Abattoirs\n\nCreate a proportionate regulatory framework distinct from industrial meat plants.\nAllow for local\, low-volume processing with simplified inspection and compliance procedures.\n\n2. Fund Community-Led Infrastructure\n\nLaunch a Small Abattoir Infrastructure Fund to refurbish\, reopen\, or establish new facilities.\nProvide capital grants and zero-interest loans for abattoir development\, prioritising farmer co-ops and communities.\n\n3. Pilot and Scale Mobile Units\n\nInvest in mobile abattoirs for poultry\, pigs\, and lamb — already in use across the EU.\nPilot in remote and underserved counties with direct farmer involvement.\n\n4. Provide Technical Support and Advisory Services\n\nSet up a dedicated Small Abattoir Taskforce with expertise in licensing\, hygiene\, planning\, and training.\nFund hands-on training in slaughter skills\, butchery\, and ethical meat processing.\n\n5. Ensure Planning and Zoning Supports for Small Facilities\n\nIntroduce planning exemptions or favourable zoning for low-impact\, farm-scale facilities.\nProvide “fast-track” licensing for abattoirs under defined size and output thresholds.\n\nConclusion\nA resilient\, ethical\, and community-embedded meat system cannot exist without small-scale\, local abattoirs. These facilities are the missing link in Ireland’s food sovereignty strategy. Without them\, farmers will remain locked into an exploitative\, extractive model that exports quality produce while denying communities the right to eat from their own land. \nWe cannot grow a healthy food system when the means of production\, processing and distribution are held far from the people and places they serve. It’s time to bring them home. \n \nTalamh Beo – Farming for the FutureWebsite: www.talamhbeo.ieEmail: info@talamhbeo.ie
URL:https://talamhbeo.ie/event/national-heritage-week/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260828
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260831
DTSTAMP:20260427T142755
CREATED:20260324T165953Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260324T171549Z
UID:20188-1787875200-1788134399@talamhbeo.ie
SUMMARY:Electric Picnic - Global Green
DESCRIPTION:Reclaiming Local Meat Processing – Supporting Small-Scale\, Community-Led Abattoirs in Ireland\nSummary\nIreland’s small-scale abattoir network has been in slow collapse for decades — a crisis driven by structural neglect\, centralisation\, and an export-first agricultural model. This decline blocks farmers from supplying local markets\, undermines animal welfare\, and concentrates power in the hands of a few large processors. Talamh Beo is calling for a new national framework to support low-throughput\, community-based abattoirs and mobile slaughter facilities. These are essential to realising food sovereignty\, reducing emissions\, and restoring farmer and community control over food systems. \n \nThe Problem\n1. Chronic Loss of Local Infrastructure\nThe decline of small abattoirs has been unfolding over decades. Ireland’s meat processing sector has become highly centralised\, with regulations and funding systems favouring large-scale\, export-oriented operations. This has made it virtually impossible for new or existing small abattoirs to survive. Poultry and pig producers are especially affected\, but the impact is now being felt across beef and lamb sectors as well. \n2. Farmer Dependence on a Small Number of Processors\nMany farmers selling directly to consumers rely on just one or two abattoirs. If these close\, are fully booked\, or raise prices\, farmers lose their market access overnight. This concentration of processing power increases costs\, adds uncertainty\, and severely limits autonomy for small-scale and agroecological producers. \n3. Longer Livestock Journeys and Poorer Welfare Outcomes\nThe loss of local slaughter options means animals travel further\, often for hours\, increasing stress\, emissions\, and cost. This undermines farmers’ commitments to animal welfare and removes the possibility of a calm and dignified “good death” for livestock raised with care. \n4. One-Size-Fits-All Regulation\nRegulatory systems treat all meat processors the same\, applying rules designed for export-scale factories to community-level or farm-based operations. Licensing\, food safety\, and planning rules impose disproportionate burdens\, effectively criminalising small abattoirs and deterring new ones from opening. \n5. Export-Oriented System Disconnects Farmers and Communities\nIreland exports the majority of its beef and lamb\, and is a net exporter of pork by volume. Yet at the same time\, we import large volumes of pork and poultry products\, especially processed and retail-ready goods. \n\nIn 2023\, Ireland had a pork self-sufficiency rate of 198%\, meaning we produced nearly twice as much pork as we consumed domestically. However\, Ireland still imported over 90\,000 tonnes of pork products\, often cheaper\, processed cuts such as sausages\, rashers\, and hams from countries like Denmark\, the Netherlands\, and Germany (CSO Meat Supply Balance 2023\, Trendeconomy: Ireland pork imports).\nSimilarly\, Ireland imported over 144\,000 tonnes of poultry meat in 2023. The poultry self-sufficiency rate was just 71%\, indicating significant reliance on imports (CSO Meat Supply Balance 2023\, Trendeconomy: Ireland poultry imports).\n\nThis creates the absurd situation where farmers produce food for export but can’t access\, process\, or sell their own meat locally. Farmers are locked into global supply chains that send their produce abroad\, while imported products return to fill supermarket shelves. \nThis situation highlights the economic and ecological absurdity of the current model: \n\nFarmers are price-takers in global markets\,\nLocal processing options are vanishing\,\nAnd communities are increasingly disconnected from local food production.\n\nOur Vision: A Rebirth of Local Meat Systems\nTalamh Beo envisions a decentralised network of low-impact\, high-welfare\, small-scale abattoirs embedded in rural communities. These should include: \n\nOn-farm slaughter and processing facilities for direct sales.\nMobile abattoirs\, especially for poultry and pigs.\nCommunity- and co-op-run local abattoirs\, backed by public investment.\nProcessing infrastructure embedded in short supply chains\, feeding local schools\, shops\, co-ops\, and households.\n\nThis is not just about logistics — it’s about power. Restoring small-scale slaughter is essential to reclaiming food systems from the grip of corporate consolidation and re-rooting them in the land\, the people who farm it\, and the communities who eat from it. \nPolicy Recommendations\nWe call on the Irish Government — especially DAFM\, the Department of Health\, and the Department of Rural and Community Development — to urgently take the following steps: \n1. Establish a New Legal Category for Small-Scale\, Low-Throughput Abattoirs\n\nCreate a proportionate regulatory framework distinct from industrial meat plants.\nAllow for local\, low-volume processing with simplified inspection and compliance procedures.\n\n2. Fund Community-Led Infrastructure\n\nLaunch a Small Abattoir Infrastructure Fund to refurbish\, reopen\, or establish new facilities.\nProvide capital grants and zero-interest loans for abattoir development\, prioritising farmer co-ops and communities.\n\n3. Pilot and Scale Mobile Units\n\nInvest in mobile abattoirs for poultry\, pigs\, and lamb — already in use across the EU.\nPilot in remote and underserved counties with direct farmer involvement.\n\n4. Provide Technical Support and Advisory Services\n\nSet up a dedicated Small Abattoir Taskforce with expertise in licensing\, hygiene\, planning\, and training.\nFund hands-on training in slaughter skills\, butchery\, and ethical meat processing.\n\n5. Ensure Planning and Zoning Supports for Small Facilities\n\nIntroduce planning exemptions or favourable zoning for low-impact\, farm-scale facilities.\nProvide “fast-track” licensing for abattoirs under defined size and output thresholds.\n\nConclusion\nA resilient\, ethical\, and community-embedded meat system cannot exist without small-scale\, local abattoirs. These facilities are the missing link in Ireland’s food sovereignty strategy. Without them\, farmers will remain locked into an exploitative\, extractive model that exports quality produce while denying communities the right to eat from their own land. \nWe cannot grow a healthy food system when the means of production\, processing and distribution are held far from the people and places they serve. It’s time to bring them home. \n \nTalamh Beo – Farming for the FutureWebsite: www.talamhbeo.ieEmail: info@talamhbeo.ie
URL:https://talamhbeo.ie/event/electric-picnic-global-green-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260915
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260918
DTSTAMP:20260427T142755
CREATED:20260324T165953Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260324T171321Z
UID:20189-1789430400-1789689599@talamhbeo.ie
SUMMARY:Ploughing Championships
DESCRIPTION:Reclaiming Local Meat Processing – Supporting Small-Scale\, Community-Led Abattoirs in Ireland\nSummary\nIreland’s small-scale abattoir network has been in slow collapse for decades — a crisis driven by structural neglect\, centralisation\, and an export-first agricultural model. This decline blocks farmers from supplying local markets\, undermines animal welfare\, and concentrates power in the hands of a few large processors. Talamh Beo is calling for a new national framework to support low-throughput\, community-based abattoirs and mobile slaughter facilities. These are essential to realising food sovereignty\, reducing emissions\, and restoring farmer and community control over food systems. \n \nThe Problem\n1. Chronic Loss of Local Infrastructure\nThe decline of small abattoirs has been unfolding over decades. Ireland’s meat processing sector has become highly centralised\, with regulations and funding systems favouring large-scale\, export-oriented operations. This has made it virtually impossible for new or existing small abattoirs to survive. Poultry and pig producers are especially affected\, but the impact is now being felt across beef and lamb sectors as well. \n2. Farmer Dependence on a Small Number of Processors\nMany farmers selling directly to consumers rely on just one or two abattoirs. If these close\, are fully booked\, or raise prices\, farmers lose their market access overnight. This concentration of processing power increases costs\, adds uncertainty\, and severely limits autonomy for small-scale and agroecological producers. \n3. Longer Livestock Journeys and Poorer Welfare Outcomes\nThe loss of local slaughter options means animals travel further\, often for hours\, increasing stress\, emissions\, and cost. This undermines farmers’ commitments to animal welfare and removes the possibility of a calm and dignified “good death” for livestock raised with care. \n4. One-Size-Fits-All Regulation\nRegulatory systems treat all meat processors the same\, applying rules designed for export-scale factories to community-level or farm-based operations. Licensing\, food safety\, and planning rules impose disproportionate burdens\, effectively criminalising small abattoirs and deterring new ones from opening. \n5. Export-Oriented System Disconnects Farmers and Communities\nIreland exports the majority of its beef and lamb\, and is a net exporter of pork by volume. Yet at the same time\, we import large volumes of pork and poultry products\, especially processed and retail-ready goods. \n\nIn 2023\, Ireland had a pork self-sufficiency rate of 198%\, meaning we produced nearly twice as much pork as we consumed domestically. However\, Ireland still imported over 90\,000 tonnes of pork products\, often cheaper\, processed cuts such as sausages\, rashers\, and hams from countries like Denmark\, the Netherlands\, and Germany (CSO Meat Supply Balance 2023\, Trendeconomy: Ireland pork imports).\nSimilarly\, Ireland imported over 144\,000 tonnes of poultry meat in 2023. The poultry self-sufficiency rate was just 71%\, indicating significant reliance on imports (CSO Meat Supply Balance 2023\, Trendeconomy: Ireland poultry imports).\n\nThis creates the absurd situation where farmers produce food for export but can’t access\, process\, or sell their own meat locally. Farmers are locked into global supply chains that send their produce abroad\, while imported products return to fill supermarket shelves. \nThis situation highlights the economic and ecological absurdity of the current model: \n\nFarmers are price-takers in global markets\,\nLocal processing options are vanishing\,\nAnd communities are increasingly disconnected from local food production.\n\nOur Vision: A Rebirth of Local Meat Systems\nTalamh Beo envisions a decentralised network of low-impact\, high-welfare\, small-scale abattoirs embedded in rural communities. These should include: \n\nOn-farm slaughter and processing facilities for direct sales.\nMobile abattoirs\, especially for poultry and pigs.\nCommunity- and co-op-run local abattoirs\, backed by public investment.\nProcessing infrastructure embedded in short supply chains\, feeding local schools\, shops\, co-ops\, and households.\n\nThis is not just about logistics — it’s about power. Restoring small-scale slaughter is essential to reclaiming food systems from the grip of corporate consolidation and re-rooting them in the land\, the people who farm it\, and the communities who eat from it. \nPolicy Recommendations\nWe call on the Irish Government — especially DAFM\, the Department of Health\, and the Department of Rural and Community Development — to urgently take the following steps: \n1. Establish a New Legal Category for Small-Scale\, Low-Throughput Abattoirs\n\nCreate a proportionate regulatory framework distinct from industrial meat plants.\nAllow for local\, low-volume processing with simplified inspection and compliance procedures.\n\n2. Fund Community-Led Infrastructure\n\nLaunch a Small Abattoir Infrastructure Fund to refurbish\, reopen\, or establish new facilities.\nProvide capital grants and zero-interest loans for abattoir development\, prioritising farmer co-ops and communities.\n\n3. Pilot and Scale Mobile Units\n\nInvest in mobile abattoirs for poultry\, pigs\, and lamb — already in use across the EU.\nPilot in remote and underserved counties with direct farmer involvement.\n\n4. Provide Technical Support and Advisory Services\n\nSet up a dedicated Small Abattoir Taskforce with expertise in licensing\, hygiene\, planning\, and training.\nFund hands-on training in slaughter skills\, butchery\, and ethical meat processing.\n\n5. Ensure Planning and Zoning Supports for Small Facilities\n\nIntroduce planning exemptions or favourable zoning for low-impact\, farm-scale facilities.\nProvide “fast-track” licensing for abattoirs under defined size and output thresholds.\n\nConclusion\nA resilient\, ethical\, and community-embedded meat system cannot exist without small-scale\, local abattoirs. These facilities are the missing link in Ireland’s food sovereignty strategy. Without them\, farmers will remain locked into an exploitative\, extractive model that exports quality produce while denying communities the right to eat from their own land. \nWe cannot grow a healthy food system when the means of production\, processing and distribution are held far from the people and places they serve. It’s time to bring them home. \n \nTalamh Beo – Farming for the FutureWebsite: www.talamhbeo.ieEmail: info@talamhbeo.ie
URL:https://talamhbeo.ie/event/ploughing-championships/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261023
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261026
DTSTAMP:20260427T142755
CREATED:20260324T165953Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260324T171216Z
UID:20190-1792713600-1792972799@talamhbeo.ie
SUMMARY:Burren Winterage Weekend
DESCRIPTION:Reclaiming Local Meat Processing – Supporting Small-Scale\, Community-Led Abattoirs in Ireland\nSummary\nIreland’s small-scale abattoir network has been in slow collapse for decades — a crisis driven by structural neglect\, centralisation\, and an export-first agricultural model. This decline blocks farmers from supplying local markets\, undermines animal welfare\, and concentrates power in the hands of a few large processors. Talamh Beo is calling for a new national framework to support low-throughput\, community-based abattoirs and mobile slaughter facilities. These are essential to realising food sovereignty\, reducing emissions\, and restoring farmer and community control over food systems. \n \nThe Problem\n1. Chronic Loss of Local Infrastructure\nThe decline of small abattoirs has been unfolding over decades. Ireland’s meat processing sector has become highly centralised\, with regulations and funding systems favouring large-scale\, export-oriented operations. This has made it virtually impossible for new or existing small abattoirs to survive. Poultry and pig producers are especially affected\, but the impact is now being felt across beef and lamb sectors as well. \n2. Farmer Dependence on a Small Number of Processors\nMany farmers selling directly to consumers rely on just one or two abattoirs. If these close\, are fully booked\, or raise prices\, farmers lose their market access overnight. This concentration of processing power increases costs\, adds uncertainty\, and severely limits autonomy for small-scale and agroecological producers. \n3. Longer Livestock Journeys and Poorer Welfare Outcomes\nThe loss of local slaughter options means animals travel further\, often for hours\, increasing stress\, emissions\, and cost. This undermines farmers’ commitments to animal welfare and removes the possibility of a calm and dignified “good death” for livestock raised with care. \n4. One-Size-Fits-All Regulation\nRegulatory systems treat all meat processors the same\, applying rules designed for export-scale factories to community-level or farm-based operations. Licensing\, food safety\, and planning rules impose disproportionate burdens\, effectively criminalising small abattoirs and deterring new ones from opening. \n5. Export-Oriented System Disconnects Farmers and Communities\nIreland exports the majority of its beef and lamb\, and is a net exporter of pork by volume. Yet at the same time\, we import large volumes of pork and poultry products\, especially processed and retail-ready goods. \n\nIn 2023\, Ireland had a pork self-sufficiency rate of 198%\, meaning we produced nearly twice as much pork as we consumed domestically. However\, Ireland still imported over 90\,000 tonnes of pork products\, often cheaper\, processed cuts such as sausages\, rashers\, and hams from countries like Denmark\, the Netherlands\, and Germany (CSO Meat Supply Balance 2023\, Trendeconomy: Ireland pork imports).\nSimilarly\, Ireland imported over 144\,000 tonnes of poultry meat in 2023. The poultry self-sufficiency rate was just 71%\, indicating significant reliance on imports (CSO Meat Supply Balance 2023\, Trendeconomy: Ireland poultry imports).\n\nThis creates the absurd situation where farmers produce food for export but can’t access\, process\, or sell their own meat locally. Farmers are locked into global supply chains that send their produce abroad\, while imported products return to fill supermarket shelves. \nThis situation highlights the economic and ecological absurdity of the current model: \n\nFarmers are price-takers in global markets\,\nLocal processing options are vanishing\,\nAnd communities are increasingly disconnected from local food production.\n\nOur Vision: A Rebirth of Local Meat Systems\nTalamh Beo envisions a decentralised network of low-impact\, high-welfare\, small-scale abattoirs embedded in rural communities. These should include: \n\nOn-farm slaughter and processing facilities for direct sales.\nMobile abattoirs\, especially for poultry and pigs.\nCommunity- and co-op-run local abattoirs\, backed by public investment.\nProcessing infrastructure embedded in short supply chains\, feeding local schools\, shops\, co-ops\, and households.\n\nThis is not just about logistics — it’s about power. Restoring small-scale slaughter is essential to reclaiming food systems from the grip of corporate consolidation and re-rooting them in the land\, the people who farm it\, and the communities who eat from it. \nPolicy Recommendations\nWe call on the Irish Government — especially DAFM\, the Department of Health\, and the Department of Rural and Community Development — to urgently take the following steps: \n1. Establish a New Legal Category for Small-Scale\, Low-Throughput Abattoirs\n\nCreate a proportionate regulatory framework distinct from industrial meat plants.\nAllow for local\, low-volume processing with simplified inspection and compliance procedures.\n\n2. Fund Community-Led Infrastructure\n\nLaunch a Small Abattoir Infrastructure Fund to refurbish\, reopen\, or establish new facilities.\nProvide capital grants and zero-interest loans for abattoir development\, prioritising farmer co-ops and communities.\n\n3. Pilot and Scale Mobile Units\n\nInvest in mobile abattoirs for poultry\, pigs\, and lamb — already in use across the EU.\nPilot in remote and underserved counties with direct farmer involvement.\n\n4. Provide Technical Support and Advisory Services\n\nSet up a dedicated Small Abattoir Taskforce with expertise in licensing\, hygiene\, planning\, and training.\nFund hands-on training in slaughter skills\, butchery\, and ethical meat processing.\n\n5. Ensure Planning and Zoning Supports for Small Facilities\n\nIntroduce planning exemptions or favourable zoning for low-impact\, farm-scale facilities.\nProvide “fast-track” licensing for abattoirs under defined size and output thresholds.\n\nConclusion\nA resilient\, ethical\, and community-embedded meat system cannot exist without small-scale\, local abattoirs. These facilities are the missing link in Ireland’s food sovereignty strategy. Without them\, farmers will remain locked into an exploitative\, extractive model that exports quality produce while denying communities the right to eat from their own land. \nWe cannot grow a healthy food system when the means of production\, processing and distribution are held far from the people and places they serve. It’s time to bring them home. \n \nTalamh Beo – Farming for the FutureWebsite: www.talamhbeo.ieEmail: info@talamhbeo.ie
URL:https://talamhbeo.ie/event/burren-winterage-weekend/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261029
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261030
DTSTAMP:20260427T142755
CREATED:20260324T165953Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260331T140906Z
UID:20191-1793232000-1793318399@talamhbeo.ie
SUMMARY:Feeding Ourselves Local Food Symposium
DESCRIPTION:Reclaiming Local Meat Processing – Supporting Small-Scale\, Community-Led Abattoirs in Ireland\nSummary\nIreland’s small-scale abattoir network has been in slow collapse for decades — a crisis driven by structural neglect\, centralisation\, and an export-first agricultural model. This decline blocks farmers from supplying local markets\, undermines animal welfare\, and concentrates power in the hands of a few large processors. Talamh Beo is calling for a new national framework to support low-throughput\, community-based abattoirs and mobile slaughter facilities. These are essential to realising food sovereignty\, reducing emissions\, and restoring farmer and community control over food systems. \n \nThe Problem\n1. Chronic Loss of Local Infrastructure\nThe decline of small abattoirs has been unfolding over decades. Ireland’s meat processing sector has become highly centralised\, with regulations and funding systems favouring large-scale\, export-oriented operations. This has made it virtually impossible for new or existing small abattoirs to survive. Poultry and pig producers are especially affected\, but the impact is now being felt across beef and lamb sectors as well. \n2. Farmer Dependence on a Small Number of Processors\nMany farmers selling directly to consumers rely on just one or two abattoirs. If these close\, are fully booked\, or raise prices\, farmers lose their market access overnight. This concentration of processing power increases costs\, adds uncertainty\, and severely limits autonomy for small-scale and agroecological producers. \n3. Longer Livestock Journeys and Poorer Welfare Outcomes\nThe loss of local slaughter options means animals travel further\, often for hours\, increasing stress\, emissions\, and cost. This undermines farmers’ commitments to animal welfare and removes the possibility of a calm and dignified “good death” for livestock raised with care. \n4. One-Size-Fits-All Regulation\nRegulatory systems treat all meat processors the same\, applying rules designed for export-scale factories to community-level or farm-based operations. Licensing\, food safety\, and planning rules impose disproportionate burdens\, effectively criminalising small abattoirs and deterring new ones from opening. \n5. Export-Oriented System Disconnects Farmers and Communities\nIreland exports the majority of its beef and lamb\, and is a net exporter of pork by volume. Yet at the same time\, we import large volumes of pork and poultry products\, especially processed and retail-ready goods. \n\nIn 2023\, Ireland had a pork self-sufficiency rate of 198%\, meaning we produced nearly twice as much pork as we consumed domestically. However\, Ireland still imported over 90\,000 tonnes of pork products\, often cheaper\, processed cuts such as sausages\, rashers\, and hams from countries like Denmark\, the Netherlands\, and Germany (CSO Meat Supply Balance 2023\, Trendeconomy: Ireland pork imports).\nSimilarly\, Ireland imported over 144\,000 tonnes of poultry meat in 2023. The poultry self-sufficiency rate was just 71%\, indicating significant reliance on imports (CSO Meat Supply Balance 2023\, Trendeconomy: Ireland poultry imports).\n\nThis creates the absurd situation where farmers produce food for export but can’t access\, process\, or sell their own meat locally. Farmers are locked into global supply chains that send their produce abroad\, while imported products return to fill supermarket shelves. \nThis situation highlights the economic and ecological absurdity of the current model: \n\nFarmers are price-takers in global markets\,\nLocal processing options are vanishing\,\nAnd communities are increasingly disconnected from local food production.\n\nOur Vision: A Rebirth of Local Meat Systems\nTalamh Beo envisions a decentralised network of low-impact\, high-welfare\, small-scale abattoirs embedded in rural communities. These should include: \n\nOn-farm slaughter and processing facilities for direct sales.\nMobile abattoirs\, especially for poultry and pigs.\nCommunity- and co-op-run local abattoirs\, backed by public investment.\nProcessing infrastructure embedded in short supply chains\, feeding local schools\, shops\, co-ops\, and households.\n\nThis is not just about logistics — it’s about power. Restoring small-scale slaughter is essential to reclaiming food systems from the grip of corporate consolidation and re-rooting them in the land\, the people who farm it\, and the communities who eat from it. \nPolicy Recommendations\nWe call on the Irish Government — especially DAFM\, the Department of Health\, and the Department of Rural and Community Development — to urgently take the following steps: \n1. Establish a New Legal Category for Small-Scale\, Low-Throughput Abattoirs\n\nCreate a proportionate regulatory framework distinct from industrial meat plants.\nAllow for local\, low-volume processing with simplified inspection and compliance procedures.\n\n2. Fund Community-Led Infrastructure\n\nLaunch a Small Abattoir Infrastructure Fund to refurbish\, reopen\, or establish new facilities.\nProvide capital grants and zero-interest loans for abattoir development\, prioritising farmer co-ops and communities.\n\n3. Pilot and Scale Mobile Units\n\nInvest in mobile abattoirs for poultry\, pigs\, and lamb — already in use across the EU.\nPilot in remote and underserved counties with direct farmer involvement.\n\n4. Provide Technical Support and Advisory Services\n\nSet up a dedicated Small Abattoir Taskforce with expertise in licensing\, hygiene\, planning\, and training.\nFund hands-on training in slaughter skills\, butchery\, and ethical meat processing.\n\n5. Ensure Planning and Zoning Supports for Small Facilities\n\nIntroduce planning exemptions or favourable zoning for low-impact\, farm-scale facilities.\nProvide “fast-track” licensing for abattoirs under defined size and output thresholds.\n\nConclusion\nA resilient\, ethical\, and community-embedded meat system cannot exist without small-scale\, local abattoirs. These facilities are the missing link in Ireland’s food sovereignty strategy. Without them\, farmers will remain locked into an exploitative\, extractive model that exports quality produce while denying communities the right to eat from their own land. \nWe cannot grow a healthy food system when the means of production\, processing and distribution are held far from the people and places they serve. It’s time to bring them home. \n \nTalamh Beo – Farming for the FutureWebsite: www.talamhbeo.ieEmail: info@talamhbeo.ie
URL:https://talamhbeo.ie/event/feeding-ourselves-local-food-symposium-2/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261119
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261120
DTSTAMP:20260427T142755
CREATED:20260324T171916Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260324T171916Z
UID:20224-1795046400-1795132799@talamhbeo.ie
SUMMARY:Farming for the Future - ECVC General Assembly
DESCRIPTION:Reclaiming Local Meat Processing – Supporting Small-Scale\, Community-Led Abattoirs in Ireland\nSummary\nIreland’s small-scale abattoir network has been in slow collapse for decades — a crisis driven by structural neglect\, centralisation\, and an export-first agricultural model. This decline blocks farmers from supplying local markets\, undermines animal welfare\, and concentrates power in the hands of a few large processors. Talamh Beo is calling for a new national framework to support low-throughput\, community-based abattoirs and mobile slaughter facilities. These are essential to realising food sovereignty\, reducing emissions\, and restoring farmer and community control over food systems. \n \nThe Problem\n1. Chronic Loss of Local Infrastructure\nThe decline of small abattoirs has been unfolding over decades. Ireland’s meat processing sector has become highly centralised\, with regulations and funding systems favouring large-scale\, export-oriented operations. This has made it virtually impossible for new or existing small abattoirs to survive. Poultry and pig producers are especially affected\, but the impact is now being felt across beef and lamb sectors as well. \n2. Farmer Dependence on a Small Number of Processors\nMany farmers selling directly to consumers rely on just one or two abattoirs. If these close\, are fully booked\, or raise prices\, farmers lose their market access overnight. This concentration of processing power increases costs\, adds uncertainty\, and severely limits autonomy for small-scale and agroecological producers. \n3. Longer Livestock Journeys and Poorer Welfare Outcomes\nThe loss of local slaughter options means animals travel further\, often for hours\, increasing stress\, emissions\, and cost. This undermines farmers’ commitments to animal welfare and removes the possibility of a calm and dignified “good death” for livestock raised with care. \n4. One-Size-Fits-All Regulation\nRegulatory systems treat all meat processors the same\, applying rules designed for export-scale factories to community-level or farm-based operations. Licensing\, food safety\, and planning rules impose disproportionate burdens\, effectively criminalising small abattoirs and deterring new ones from opening. \n5. Export-Oriented System Disconnects Farmers and Communities\nIreland exports the majority of its beef and lamb\, and is a net exporter of pork by volume. Yet at the same time\, we import large volumes of pork and poultry products\, especially processed and retail-ready goods. \n\nIn 2023\, Ireland had a pork self-sufficiency rate of 198%\, meaning we produced nearly twice as much pork as we consumed domestically. However\, Ireland still imported over 90\,000 tonnes of pork products\, often cheaper\, processed cuts such as sausages\, rashers\, and hams from countries like Denmark\, the Netherlands\, and Germany (CSO Meat Supply Balance 2023\, Trendeconomy: Ireland pork imports).\nSimilarly\, Ireland imported over 144\,000 tonnes of poultry meat in 2023. The poultry self-sufficiency rate was just 71%\, indicating significant reliance on imports (CSO Meat Supply Balance 2023\, Trendeconomy: Ireland poultry imports).\n\nThis creates the absurd situation where farmers produce food for export but can’t access\, process\, or sell their own meat locally. Farmers are locked into global supply chains that send their produce abroad\, while imported products return to fill supermarket shelves. \nThis situation highlights the economic and ecological absurdity of the current model: \n\nFarmers are price-takers in global markets\,\nLocal processing options are vanishing\,\nAnd communities are increasingly disconnected from local food production.\n\nOur Vision: A Rebirth of Local Meat Systems\nTalamh Beo envisions a decentralised network of low-impact\, high-welfare\, small-scale abattoirs embedded in rural communities. These should include: \n\nOn-farm slaughter and processing facilities for direct sales.\nMobile abattoirs\, especially for poultry and pigs.\nCommunity- and co-op-run local abattoirs\, backed by public investment.\nProcessing infrastructure embedded in short supply chains\, feeding local schools\, shops\, co-ops\, and households.\n\nThis is not just about logistics — it’s about power. Restoring small-scale slaughter is essential to reclaiming food systems from the grip of corporate consolidation and re-rooting them in the land\, the people who farm it\, and the communities who eat from it. \nPolicy Recommendations\nWe call on the Irish Government — especially DAFM\, the Department of Health\, and the Department of Rural and Community Development — to urgently take the following steps: \n1. Establish a New Legal Category for Small-Scale\, Low-Throughput Abattoirs\n\nCreate a proportionate regulatory framework distinct from industrial meat plants.\nAllow for local\, low-volume processing with simplified inspection and compliance procedures.\n\n2. Fund Community-Led Infrastructure\n\nLaunch a Small Abattoir Infrastructure Fund to refurbish\, reopen\, or establish new facilities.\nProvide capital grants and zero-interest loans for abattoir development\, prioritising farmer co-ops and communities.\n\n3. Pilot and Scale Mobile Units\n\nInvest in mobile abattoirs for poultry\, pigs\, and lamb — already in use across the EU.\nPilot in remote and underserved counties with direct farmer involvement.\n\n4. Provide Technical Support and Advisory Services\n\nSet up a dedicated Small Abattoir Taskforce with expertise in licensing\, hygiene\, planning\, and training.\nFund hands-on training in slaughter skills\, butchery\, and ethical meat processing.\n\n5. Ensure Planning and Zoning Supports for Small Facilities\n\nIntroduce planning exemptions or favourable zoning for low-impact\, farm-scale facilities.\nProvide “fast-track” licensing for abattoirs under defined size and output thresholds.\n\nConclusion\nA resilient\, ethical\, and community-embedded meat system cannot exist without small-scale\, local abattoirs. These facilities are the missing link in Ireland’s food sovereignty strategy. Without them\, farmers will remain locked into an exploitative\, extractive model that exports quality produce while denying communities the right to eat from their own land. \nWe cannot grow a healthy food system when the means of production\, processing and distribution are held far from the people and places they serve. It’s time to bring them home. \n \nTalamh Beo – Farming for the FutureWebsite: www.talamhbeo.ieEmail: info@talamhbeo.ie
URL:https://talamhbeo.ie/event/farming-for-the-future-ecvc-general-assembly/
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