Agri-business firms and Irish agriculture in the decades to independence

Most agricultural output in early 20th century Ireland was consumed on the farm or exported in an unprocessed state. A significant share nevertheless served as an input to Irish industry. While farmers and agri-business firms operated on opposite sides of the market, their relationship was symbiotic: the health of one impacted on the health of the other. Success on the part of agri-business firms improved agricultural market conditions in Ireland, and successful firms frequently contributed to improvements in the quality of agricultural produce.