Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 July 2015
123. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he expects the agrifood sector to grow in the context of Food Harvest 2020; the number of new markets likely to become available for Irish produce globally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26648/15]
View answer130. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he expects agricultural production to increase throughout each sector in the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26655/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 130 together.
Targets for agri-food growth were set out in Food Harvest 2020 and I am confident that they are fully achievable over the next five years. As the Deputy is aware, the main targets in the Food Harvest report are, by 2020, to increase the value of:
- Primary output in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector by 33% from €4.5 billion to €6.1 billion,
- Agriculture, food (including seafood) and drink exports by 42%, an increase from the baseline figure of €8.2 billion to of €12 billion
- Value added production by 40% from a 2008 baseline.
In addition to these value increases, the dairy industry targeted a 50% increase in milk production by 2020 to be progressed once the cap on milk production was lifted in April 2015.
Progress on these targets is monitored and reviewed on an ongoing basis. By end 2014, the value of all primary output increased significantly to €5,977m, virtually reaching its target of a 33% increase. Export performance has also been strong at €10.45 billion, more than halfway towards achieving the 2020 target of €12 billion and giving a 45% increase since 2009. Value Added has increased to over €7.5 billion which means it is more than two thirds of the way to its target increase of €2.5bn by 2020.
Given that the final comprehensive review of Food Harvest 2020, Milestones 2014, was published last September, I decided that it was opportune time to look to the future and consider what the agri-food industry can achieve over the next decade to 2025. I appointed Mr John Moloney to chair a 2025 Agri-Food Strategy Committee. They have just concluded their work and I am looking forward to launching tomorrow their report with their expert recommendations on how best to maximise the opportunities open to this sector us over the next decade.
Irish agri-food producers already export to over 175 countries and the pointers for continuing expansion are favourable. Targeted ministerial trade and investment missions together with the work of the Department’s cross-divisional trade team opened up 8 new trade areas in 2013 and 9 in 2014. I expect this success to continue particularly as our competitiveness levels improve.
