Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 February 2022
466. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he and his Department continue to be involved in measures to expand the food production sector notwithstanding competing issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7346/22]
View answerThe development of a new ten-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 with An Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD and Ministerial colleagues last August. Entitled ‘Food Vision 2030 – A World Leader in Sustainable Food Systems’, its Vision is that “Ireland will become a world leader in Sustainable Food Systems over the next decade. This should deliver significant benefits for the Irish agri-food sector itself, for Irish society and the environment. In demonstrating the Irish agri-food sector meets the highest standards of sustainability – economic, environmental, and social – this should also provide the basis for the future competitive advantage of the sector. By adopting an integrated food systems approach, Ireland will seek to become a global leader of innovation for sustainable food and agriculture systems, producing safe, nutritious, and high-value food that tastes great, while protecting and enhancing our natural and cultural resources and contributing to vibrant rural and coastal communities and the national economy”. The Strategy consists of 22 Goals, grouped into four high-level Missions for the sector to work toward:
1. A Climate Smart, Environmentally Sustainable Agri-Food Sector
2. Viable and Resilient Primary Producers with Enhanced Well-Being
3. Food Which is Safe, Nutritious And Appealing, Trusted And Valued at Home and Abroad
4. An Innovative, Competitive and Resilient Agri-Food Sector, Driven by Technology And Talent 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.
