In the space of a few weeks, the midlands-based headquarters of the Irish Organic Farmers' and Growers' Association (IOFGA) has become central to Irish agriculture.
The demand from the farming community for information on how to go organic has increased dramatically as concern grows over the effects of BSE.
Earlier this week, in her office in Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath, Ms Noreen Gibney, the operations manager of the IFOGA, called for a publicly funded information campaign to help farmers who are seeking information on how to convert to organic farming.
"There has been a huge upsurge in calls here from farmers, processors and the public on how they should proceed, and we are hard pressed to keep up with the demand," she said. Apart from farmers, food-processors have been anxious to get into the organic business and so are the beef processors, she added.
"The number of plants licensed to process organic beef has risen from three to 15 in the last few months, and this demand has been market driven.
"Demand for organic beef both here and abroad far outstrips supply, and I see that demand growing in the future," Ms Gibney said.
"In addition we are getting calls from smaller processors who want to process organic food, and there are farmers who want to get involved as well.
"Even on the home market, there are many opportunities for local processors to substitute organic produce for the organic produce we are importing now," she said.
"Ireland is ideally placed to make the change to organic production because there is not much intensive farming."
She said clear signals from the EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Franz Fischler, that he favoured the organic route had added to the demand.
The announcement by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Mr Walsh, of more assistance for farmers changing to organic production had been very important.
"There are 45,000 farmers already in the Rural Environment Protection Scheme who have a contract to farm in an environmentally sensitive way and they would be best placed to move into organic production," she said.
"The hill sheep farmers who are using very little input are also well placed to make the move if they change their supplementary feeding and veterinary practices."
She said the surge in interest in organic farming was happening against the background of ongoing deliberations by a special committee set up by Mr Walsh last November, the Organic Development Committee.
"That report, which will point the way forward for the industry, is due in April of next year and the committee is currently working on a new logo for Irish produced organic food," she said.
At the end of 2000 there were 1,014 registered organic producers, and she predicted a dramatic increase this year.
She said most of the producers registered with IOFGA were already in beef production, and nearly 850 produced beef on their farms.
"The farms vary in size from a few animals to over 100, and there are substantial numbers of organic animals available, but the demand for them is very high."
She said that, like conventional farming, organic beef producers were also looking at breeds of cattle which could be ready for the market before 30 months of age.
This work would be assisted by Teagasc, the agriculture and food development authority, through its work at its research stations at Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford, and Athenry, Co Galway.
Also, more research was being carried out in the country on all aspects of production by organic organisations and private individuals.
She said a two-day conference would be held in Killarney, Co Kerry, on April 19th and 20th and this would be of interest to anyone wishing to get involved.
Details of that conference, and of organic production, can be obtained from the organisation at 0506-32563 or by email from IOFGA@eircom.net