Agricultural Crime in Ireland

In their ICSA/WIT report on Incidence of Agricultural Crime in Ireland Dr Kathleen Louise Moore Walsh and Louise Walsh of WIT Waterford say "Determining the extent of agricultural crime is important because the financial costs of agricultural crime can extend well beyond the initial loss and affect the ability of the farm as a business to maximise the wealth of the farmer owner. For example, the theft of breeding stock can destroy an individual farmer’s time, money and breeding programme and represents hidden opportunity costs. Also, the costsof agricultural crime can extend beyond the loss to the individual farmer to local businesses that rely on the farmer’s income or products/services. Consumers may be impacted if agricultural product prices increase due to the cost of agricultural crime.
Additionally, potential risks to the food chain may be created where illegal rubbish dumping pollutes crops, waterways or livestock, or stolen livestock is slaughtered and distributed outside of food protection processes."
Contact details
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Louise Walsh
Kmoore-walsh@wit.ie
Lwalsh@wit.ie
Tel: 051 302272
College St. Campus | Waterford Institute of Technology | Waterford