The Government’s attempts to increase beef exports to South Korea have been described as “lunacy” by TD Bríd Smith. 

During the week, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar flew to Seoul for a trade mission, accompanied by Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue and Trade Minister Simon Coveney. 

The trip was designed to emulate St Patrick’s Day when ministers fan out across the globe to promote Irish interests and Mr Varadkar described it as a “new approach” to building trade ties with countries outside the European Union. 

“We’ve now 40 years of diplomatic relations with Korea,” he said.

“In addition to that, it’s the 12th biggest economy in the world and we think it’ll be in the top 10 before not too long and we want to make sure our presence is felt there.”

The Government has submitted a beef access application to grow agrifood exports to Korea, currently worth €75 million, and Minister McConalogue described the issue as a “priority” for his Department. 

“I see the expansion of markets for Irish beef as crucial for the further development of our beef sector,” he said. 

“My Department has worked intensively with their Korean counterparts over the last few years to complete all the necessary technical steps to get to this stage.”

Carbon impact

However, the drive has raised eyebrows among People Before Profit, who worry that higher beef exports are not compatible with Ireland’s climate targets. 

“What we need to do is to do is to help farmers with a just transition [and] to shift to a more sustainable food production that matches our climate emissions, that also helps to alleviate our water tables and that rewards farmers in a way [sees] we don’t increase the herd,” Deputy Smith said. 

“It’s just lunacy, so I’m quite shocked by the Government doing this.” 

Beef is one of the most carbon intensive food products, due to the large amount of methane cattle produce. 

Agriculture accounted for 38.4% of greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland last year and the sector has been tasked by Government with reducing its emissions by 25% by the year 2030.

Main image: Beef.