25% of farmers still not aware of Agri-Food Regulator

25% of farmers and growers still not aware of Agri-Food Regulator - report

Updated / Tuesday, 10 Nov 2026 13:01

A quarter of the country's farmers, fishers, and growers are not aware of the Agri-Food Regulator - with understanding of the independent State body remaining limited - according to new research.

The survey of 501 primary producers in the agri-food sector found that 75% of them are aware of the regulator, with that figure rising to 86% for dairy farmers.

The research - carried out by Red C on behalf of the regulator - also indicates that 62% of respondents understand its role in enforcing unfair trading practices (UTPs) in the agri-food sector, with 49% aware of its market transparency remit.

However, just a third of primary producers reported being aware of the State body's confidential complaints process for UTPs.

Meanwhile, roughly half of respondents (51%) said they would be likely to make a complaint about a UTP to the regulator (up from 46% in 2025).

The Agri-Food Regulator was established nearly three years ago with the aim of providing additional insights into price and market analysis across agri-food sectors.

However, the regulator has repeatedly failed to get businesses to provide it with data it had requested, though the Department of Agriculture has granted increased powers to compel businesses to provide relevant market data to help it improve transparency across agri-food supply chains.

Commenting on the Red C research, CEO of the Agri-Food Regulator Niamh Lenehan said: "As an organisation approaching its three-year milestone, it is encouraging to see a high level of awareness of the Office".

"It is especially reassuring that primary producers would be likely to make a complaint about an unfair trading practice, which demonstrates a high level of trust in the complaints process," she said.

The regulator's website includes interactive price and market data dashboards on seven sectors - including beef, dairy, sheep, egg & poultry, vegetable, fruit and horticulture.

The study, which ran from 9 August to 18 September this year, found that 71% of the respondents who had used the sectoral dashboard reports said that their needs were met.