Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 June 2023
159. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department will produce a pathway strategy for reaching the target of 400,000 ha of tillage farming by 2030, as set out in the climate action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29977/23]
View answerThe tillage sector is an important and integral component of the Agri-food industry. It is dynamic, sustainable and world-class and I am committed to securing its long-term future. It is sector that I want to see grow and flourish in the years ahead.
The importance of the tillage sector is recognised in the Food Vision 2030 strategy and in the Climate Action Plan 2023 where a target is set out to increase the area in tillage to 400,000 hectares. This is an ambitious target, but I firmly believe that it is well-founded given that the sector is one of the most carbon efficient sectors of Irish agriculture.
To help achieve this target, I recently established the Food Vision 2030 Tillage Group. This group, which brings together all relevant stakeholders, has been established to advance the actions for the tillage sector identified in the Food Vision 2030 strategy, while also taking account of the targets set out in the Farm to Fork Strategy and the Climate Action Plan 2023.
The remit of the Food Vision Tillage Group is to produce a detailed plan and recommendations to sustainably grow the sector to 400,000 hectares by 2030.
