The next WTO deal could devastate the farming sector and the rural economy to the tune of 50,000 jobs.
This was the grave warning from IFA president Padraig Walshe, who said that EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson's position on WTO could wipe out beef and dairy farming in Ireland.
The IFA leader joined ICMSA president Jackie Cahill in calling on the Irish Government to declare a national interest in the WTO negotiations.
The two leaders were supported by ICOS president Padraig Gibbons, Dan Browne of Dawn Meats, Jerry Henchy, chief executive of Dairygold and Macra president Catherine Buckley at a press conference in Dublin on Wednesday.
"Significantly, six years ago we had a thriving sugar industry in Ireland which is now gone and that happened as a direct result of the last WTO deal," Mr Walshe said.
