Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 July 2016
384. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which indicators in respect of Food Harvest 2020 and Food Wise 2025 remain in line with expectations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23096/16]
View answer387. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he expects agriculture production to increase throughout each sector in the next four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23099/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 384 and 387 together.
Food Wise 2025, the new ten year strategy for the agrifood sector published in July last year, is the successor to the Food Harvest strategy. It identifies the opportunities and challenges facing the sector and provides an enabling strategy that will allow the sector to grow and prosper. Food Wise includes more than 400 specific recommendations, spread across the cross-cutting themes of sustainability, innovation, human capital, market development and competitiveness; as well as specific sectorial recommendations.
If these recommendations are implemented, the expert committee which drew up the Food Wise 2025 Strategy believes that the following growth projections are achievable by 2025: increasing the value of agrifood exports by 85% to €19 billion; increasing value added in the sector by 70% to in excess of €13 billion; and increasing the value of primary production by 65% to almost €10 billion. With regard to employment, Food Wise foresees the creation of 23,000 additional jobs in the agrifood sector all along the supply chain from primary production to high value added product development.
Last week I launched the first annual progress report of Food Wise 2025: Steps to Success 2016. Food Wise Steps to Success showed that, of the 330 detailed actions which were due to commence in 2015 or 2016, 28% have been achieved or substantial action has been undertaken and a further 67% have commenced and are progressing well. I believe that this is a good start and I will press on to get as many actions as possible completed within the next year.
