Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon today (Thursday, May 28) launched the National Organic Awards 2026 at Bloom in the Phoenix Park, Dublin.

Jointly hosted by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and Bord Bia, the flagship biennial awards will take place in September, at the Bord Bia Global Hub in Dublin.

The National Organic Awards are now open to entries from the 6,100 Irish organic farmers and food businesses across Ireland.

Research from Bord Bia shows that the Irish market for organic produce grew by 12.5% last year, driven by ever increasing retailer and consumer appreciation for organic food.

Speaking at the joint Bord Bia and DAFM organic show garden at Bloom, Minister Heydon said: “Ireland’s organic sector continues to play an increasingly important role in the sustainable development of the Irish agri-food sector, presenting significant opportunities to increase our food exports to meet growing demand for organic products on international markets.

“The National Organic Awards provide an important opportunity to recognise the innovation, commitment and leadership being shown by organic farmers, producers and businesses across the country.

"Launching the Call for Entries for the Awards at Bloom, alongside our organic show garden, is a wonderful way to bring the story of organic farming closer to consumers and to highlight the strong momentum and opportunity within the sector," the minister added.

National Organic Awards

The National Organic Awards recognise excellence and innovation across Ireland’s organic farming and food sector.

They will celebrate producers, retailers, exporters, farmers and food businesses championing organic production in Ireland.

The full list of award categories includes:

Best Irish Organic Brand Award;
Best Irish Organic Farmer Award (Male and Female);
Best Irish Organic Retailer Award;
Best Irish Organic Exporter Award;
Best New and Innovative Irish Organic Product Award;
Best Irish Organic Foodservice and Impact Initiative Award.

The winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony with judging due to take place at the Bord Bia Global Hub on September 3, 2026.

The launch at Bloom forms part of Bord Bia’s wider organic sector showcase at Bloom 2026.

Visitors to the Organic Show Garden, Nature in Balance, a gold medal-winning garden designed by Linda McKeown, can experience a programme of talks, discussions and demonstrations exploring organic food, farming, biodiversity and sustainability.

Speaking at the launch, representatives highlighted the continued growth and momentum within Ireland’s organic sector.

CEO of Bord Bia Jim O’Toole said: “Consumer interest in organic food continues to grow both in Ireland and internationally, with shoppers increasingly seeking food that reflects quality, provenance, and sustainability.

The closing date for entries to the National Organic Awards is July 17, 2026.