Farming: Organic agriculture showcased at Bloom 2025

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Bord Bia joined forces to showcase Ireland’s commitment to expanding organic agriculture with a new organic show garden at Bloom 2025.

The show garden, Nature’s Symphony: Celebrating Organic Growth, was designed to engage and educate visitors on the principles of organic production and the advantages of sustainable growing methods.

The organic farming sector is growing rapidly in Ireland, as new data shows that the amount of land being farmed organically has more than tripled since 2021. In January of this year, 5.5% of agricultural land was being farmed organically, compared to just 1.6% of Irish land being used for organic farming in 2021.

Farmer participation in the sector is also increasing and has almost tripled in the past three years. Currently, about 5,700 farmers are now utilising organic practices in their farming, compared to 2,000 farmers in 2023.

The organic show garden at Bloom 2025 highlighted Ireland’s commitment to further grow organic agricultural production, which is a key target set out in the 2024-2030 National Organic Strategy.

Under the Strategy, Ireland has committed to delivering €750 million worth of organic produce in wholesale price terms by 2030, an increase from €200 million worth of organic product in 2023. 

The Department has also committed to a target of 10% of Irish agricultural lands being farmed organically by 2030.

Visitors to Bloom were able to see distinct planting zones within the garden, that showcased organic crops, potatoes and other vegetables in traditional lazy beds, alongside common Irish wild plants and specimen trees.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon said: “Irish organic agriculture is incredibly important to our economy, and I am pleased to see Bord Bia and my Department working together to highlight the sector this year with our collaborative organic show garden at Bloom. 

"(Recently) I announced 10 projects that will receive funding of almost €1 million to promote the Irish organic sector in line with our National Organic Strategy 2024-2030. 

"This Strategy underpins the Government’s commitment to advancing Irish organic farming.” 

Director of Meat, Food and Beverages at Bord Bia, John Murray added: “The notable recent growth in the Irish organic agricultural sector shows a rising interest in organic production at farm level and marks the progress that has been made in the journey to achieving targets set out in the National Organic Strategy 2024-2030. 

"The organic show garden at Bloom promotes this growing sector."

He encouraged attendees to Bloom to learn more about organic farming and "the benefits that it brings to the environment, the economy and the dinner table”. 

The Nature’s Symphony: Celebrating Organic Growth show garden also highlighted the importance of biodiversity and how organic practices work in tandem with the environment.

The garden included a number of intimate performance spaces, with amphitheatre style seating made from sustainably sourced materials, which hosted a series of ad hoc organic-related performances across the weekend.

A number of wild zones within the garden were purposefully left untamed, featuring wildflowers and habitats that attract pollinators. 

The design choice underscored the beauty of untamed nature and highlighted the importance of creating sanctuaries for wildlife.

Elements of the show garden also paid homage to President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins, who is the Patron of Bloom, his support of organic food production, and his dedication to sustainability, creativity, and the arts.

Besides the organic show garden, a designated space hosted educational workshops on organic gardening tips, inviting visitors of all ages to learn and engage with the organic elements of the garden.

Bord Bia and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine have agreed to deliver an organic show garden at Bloom for the next three years.

This year’s organic garden was designed by Liat and Oliver Schurmann, who own the highly regarded Mount Venus Nursery in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains. Liat and Oliver are passionate about designing show gardens for Bord Bia Bloom and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). They have won numerous medals and awards for their cutting-edge designs, which are influenced by the continental approach to functional garden design.