Terence Flanagan
Question:832. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to increase Irish food production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57799/12]
View answerWednesday, 16 January 2013
Questions (832)
Written answers
Food Harvest 2020 (FH2020) is the overall blueprint for the development of the agriculture, food, fisheries and forestry sector for the next decade. As the Deputy will be aware, this report set value growth targets in primary production, exports and value-added products. These targets will be achieved through a combination of increased production levels as well as enhanced efficiency and competitiveness measures. I chair the Food Harvest Implementation Committee (HLIC) and through this HLIC, which involves the senior executives of the agri-food sector’s state agencies, my focus is to achieve increased productivity at farm level.
FH2020 contained over 100 recommendations specifically directed at improving farm level efficiency. These involve a range of issues including knowledge transfer, genomics, competitiveness, animal welfare and restructuring which are progressed on a continuous basis by the HLIC. The latest Food Harvest progress report ‘Milestones for Success 2012’ (page 3) gives an update on each of these recommendations as well as a good overview on progress achieved to date; see the following link http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/agri-foodindustry/foodharvest2020/Report2012Milestonesforsucces021112.pdf
Within that context, I would highlight two areas of specific relevance to your question. To meet the ambitious targets for the agriculture and food industry, Teagasc has developed nine road maps, covering dairy, suckler beef, pigs, sheep, tillage, forestry, horticulture, food and the environment. These set out the technical performance required at farm level to meet the FH2020 targets and also take account of environmental and land-use implications of changes. Having explored the research and advisory actions required, the necessary actions are included in annual Business Plans and communicated to farmers.
Improved knowledge transfer is key area for increasing productivity and my Department has allocated additional funding to encourage efficiency gains at farm level Following on from the very successful dairy efficiency programme, farmer discussion groups, funded by this Department, were extended to the beef, sheep and cereal sectors. Currently over 11,000 farmers are involved in these groups which are improving competitiveness and efficiency at farm level through adoption of best practice in grassland management, breeding and financial management.
These and other similar efficiency measures are the steps being taken to increase production levels and attain the targets set in Food Harvest 2020.