Only four Irish organisations replied to an online EU consultation process on organic farming, which will lead to an action plan for the sector later this year.
Later today in Brussels, the European Commission will hold a full hearing on how to promote organic farming, using information gathered from the 1,136 replies to the consultation process.
The European Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Franz Fischler, is anxious that there be a balanced approach to organic production, which has moved out of the experimental stage into the commercial sector.
More than 100 organisations will take part in the hearing with the relevant commissioners and European farm ministers, including those from accession and candidate countries.
The hearing will be formally opened by the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mr Walsh, who is currently president of the Council of Agriculture Ministers.
In a speech to be delivered at the hearing, Mr Walsh will say how there are now more than 150,000 organic farm holdings in the EU, taking produce from 3.8 million hectares, representing 3 per cent of total utilised agricultural land.
In terms of the area of land devoted to organic farming, Austria and Italy lead the way with 8 per cent, Finland next with 7 per cent, followed by Denmark and Sweden with 6 per cent.
Just under 1 per cent of Irish agricultural land is under organic production with 1,000 registered farmers. While the area being farmed is small, the Irish organic market was estimated to be worth €38 million last year.
The indications are that an annual growth rate of around 10 per cent should be achievable in the Irish organic food market in the medium term.
The Minister will tell the conference that there are significant opportunities for Ireland in producing and processing organic food.