Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 February 2022
161. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether it is necessary to review the Food Strategy for 2030 in view of Ireland’s emission reduction targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61544/21]
View answerThe development of a new 10-year strategy for the agri-food sector is a key commitment of the Programme for Government, which called for an ambitious blueprint for the sector for the years ahead, supporting family farms & employment in rural Ireland and adding value sustainably into the future, with a strategic focus on environmental protection.
I was delighted to launch the new stakeholder-led strategy for the Irish agri-food sector, Food Vision 2030, with An Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD and Ministerial colleagues last August. The Strategy is honest and upfront about the challenges ahead. Crucially, it proposes solutions and charts a pathway to sustainability in all its dimensions – environmental, economic and social. One of the stand-out aspects of the Strategy is its adoption of a food systems approach, taking a more holistic view of agri-food by ensuring an interconnectedness between it and the areas of health & nutrition and the environment. Food Vision aims for Ireland to be a world leader in Sustainable Food Systems. Food Vision 2030 sets out 22 goals under four high-level missions that the sector must achieve if it is to fulfil this ambition:- A Climate Smart, Environmentally Sustainable Agri-Food Sector- Viable and Resilient Primary Producers, with Enhanced Wellbeing- Food that is Safe, Nutritious and Appealing, Trusted and Valued at Home and Abroad- An Innovative, Competitive and Resilient Sector, Driven by Technology and Talent.There are seven Goals in Mission 1 “A Climate Smart, Environmentally Sustainable Agri-food Sector”, which aim to deliver a climate-neutral food system by 2050, with verifiable progress achieved by 2030, encompassing emissions reductions, carbon sequestration, improvements in air quality, restoration and enhancement of biodiversity, improvements in water quality, development of diverse forests, enhanced seafood sustainability, exploring the bioeconomy and strengthening Origin Green. Food Vision recognises that environmental targets are set and updated by legislation. It outlines the goals and actions which will provide a strategic framework for achieving those legislative targets. Ireland’s Climate Action Plan 2021, the most ambitious ever produced, was launched last November. The commitments for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the agriculture sector are challenging but I know the sector is committed to the challenge. Delivering real results will require collaboration, cooperation, and a sense of shared responsibility between citizens, industry and the State to deliver our environmental ambitions.The success of Food Vision will depend on effective implementation and oversight and I chaired the first meeting of the Food Vision High-Level Implementation Committee in November. In line with one of the outcomes of that first implementation meeting, I recently announced the establishment of a Food Vision Dairy Group, whose first task will be to “produce a detailed plan by Q2 2022 to manage the sustainable environmental footprint of the dairy sector”. Given the importance of providing certainty for the sector, I have tasked the Group to provide an initial report to me by end March setting out how emissions associated with the dairy sector can be stabilised, and then reduced, with a final plan to be submitted by the end of quarter two.
A key priority for the Food Vision Dairy Group is ensuring that we continue to provide a platform of sustainability for our farmers and our sector, economically, environmentally and socially. The new Group is chaired by Professor Gerry Boyle and includes representatives from the farming organisations, the dairy industry, my Department and relevant agencies, and they met for the first time earlier this week.
