Labour costs and availability continue to challenge horticulture sector

Ireland’s horticultural sector experienced a largely positive growing season in 2025, aided by improved weather conditions compared to the previous year. However, significant challenges remain, particularly around rising labour costs and availability, according to the newly published Teagasc Achievements 2025 report.

The positive growing conditions in 2025 led to good fruit set and growing conditions for crops such as apples and innovations in the soft fruit sector continue with the use of ever-bearer varieties, heated glasshouses and LED lighting systems increasing the potential Irish strawberry season from April to December.

Despite the overall positive year, Storm Éowyn had a severe impact on parts of the industry. A total of 153 growers reported crop losses or structural damage as a result of the storm.

Additionally, the publication states, labour cost and availability continue to be a major challenge to the sector; it accounts for 42.6% of the total input costs and rose by 7.3% in 2025 compared to 2024.

Within key sectors, such as mushroom production, 77% of the labour costs are associated with harvesting mushrooms. The sector has been investing significantly in research and demonstration of automation to reduce the reliance on labour and in 2025, 16 robots were operational, with three tunnels fitted with semi-automated solutions. Within field vegetable production, 650Ha of field vegetables are now planted by automatic planters, again reducing the reliance on labour.

The publication also delves into the sustainability challenge of peat for the horticulture sector, noting that significant progress has been achieved with 7% of mushrooms now produced in peat free systems and the use of alternative growing media diluents increasing in the nursery stock sector.

The Achievements 2025 also touches on the organic vegetable sector, with organic vegetable retails sales valued at €53.6 million in 2025, growing 9.9% year on year. Organic carrots, tomatoes, broccoli, onions and cucumbers are the best sellers. Imports currently account for around 70% of retail sales in Ireland. However, significant opportunities exist to increase production of Irish grown organic produce. The National Irish Organic Strategy sets out targets to reduce reliance on imports to less than 50% by 2030.

For more, view the Teagasc Achievements 2025 report (PDF).