Irish dairy "remains a trusted and competitive partner in an uncertain time", according to Bord Bia CEO Jim O'Toole.

O'Toole said that over the past 12 months, there have been sharp price movements, uncertain trading conditions and tariff exposure in key markets, among other challenges.

Speaking at Bord Bia’s dairy markets seminar 2026, he also addressed volatility as a result of the conflict in the Middle East.

Reputation

"Our competitive edge lies in our ability to respond quickly, stay close to customers and to protect Ireland's reputation for quality and trust," he said.

"Our challenge is to turn that uncertainty into informed choices about markets, customers, risk and how we continue to differentiate Irish dairy in a crowded and competitive world."

Credibility

Despite all of the challenges faced, "we are well placed to compete", according to O'Toole.

"We have a strong cooperative model, we have ambitious farmers who are committed to continuous improvement, we have proven processing and innovation capability and a supply base that can stand over its sustainability and quality credentials with independent verification," O'Toole said.

"That matters because in today's market, credibility is increasingly valuable."

In volatile markets, sustainability and quality "are not optional extras, they are essential to protecting market access, strengthening customer confidence and supporting value back to farm", he said.

"As customer regulatory expectations continue to rise, the suppliers who succeed will be those who can prove their strandards in traceability, in food safety, animal health and welfare, and measurable environmental progress."

Preparation

He said while "we cannot control every swing in global markets, we can control how prepared we are" with "the strength of our standards, the quality of our customer relationships, the clarity of Ireland's dairy proposition" all key elements.

"Irish dairy remains a trusted and competitive partner in an uncertain time," O'Toole said.

"My commitment is clear - Bord Bia will continue to invest in insight, customer engagement and quality assurance, working with co-ops and industry to strengthen Ireland's reputation and help to deliver value, not just volume."

The CEO added: "The success of this sector has been built by combined efforts of everybody in this room, and across the wider industry, from farm to processing to market."

Dairy markets seminar

Bord Bia’s dairy markets seminar 2026 is taking place today (Tuesday, March 24) at the Killashee Hotel in Naas.

The theme for the event is 'navigating volatility in an uncertain world'.

The event brings together expert speakers to discuss: volatility in global dairy markets; Europe’s place in dairy, digitisation, trade and tariffs; and the key consumer and innovation trends shaping future opportunities for the Irish and global dairy sector.

A number of panel discussions are taking place during the event, including those focused on the global outlook and macro factors affecting dairy, and the consumer outlook and trends shaping innovation in 2026 and beyond.

Build on dairy's strengths

Opening the event virtually, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon said that the theme of the event is timely.

"Across global markets, we are seeing increasing uncertainty driven by geopolitical developments and market volatility," Minister Heydon said.

He said the dairy sector must continue to build on its "strengths".

"We must continue to drive for innovation in the sector and continue to diversify our market offering," Minister Heydon said.

"We must maintain and enhance our reputation as a sustainable producer of safe and nutritious dairy food products on the international stage.

"Continued progress on water quality will be an essential part of this also," the minister added.