Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 December 2023
454. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the targets set in Foodwise 2025 continue to be met; the areas, if any, which have raised concern and any proposals arising therefrom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56231/23]
View answerThe Food Vision 2030 strategy, which succeeded Food Wise 2025, is the latest in a series of ten-year stakeholder-led strategies for the Irish agri-food sector and was launched in August 2021.
I am committed to leading on Food Vision as we seek to deliver on our environmental, economic and social sustainability ambitions. I established a High Level Implementation Committee and have already chaired eight meetings, where we have examined a wide range of issues and I am pleased to say that implementation of Food Vision 2030 is well underway, with many of its actions commenced. The implementation process allows us to monitor the process, examine areas where progress is not being made and to adjust as necessary.
Progress to date includes important work on environmental sustainability in the dairy and beef sectors, through specific stakeholder Groups. Both Groups submitted reports and many of the recommendations from these are now included in the Climate Action Plan 2023, with others integrated generally into policy. The Groups will continue to meet to progress these and other important actions for the dairy, beef and sheep sectors set out in Food Vision 2030. A Food Vision 2030 Tillage Group was established earlier this year, highlighting the significant role the tillage sector plays in Ireland’s food and feed security and the ambition to grow the tillage area.
The first Food Vision Annual Report detailing progress was published in May 2023 www.gov.ie/en/publication/c73a3-food-vision-2030-a-world-leader-in-sustainable-food-systems/
In terms of overall progress to date, 14 actions are complete, 108 actions have substantial action undertaken, 92 actions have commenced and are progressing, and four actions have not yet commenced. Among the key achievements are the development of Sustainability Plans for the Dairy and Beef Sectors, as already mentioned; the work of the Seafood Sector Taskforce; the publication of Ireland’s Forest Strategy 2023 – 2030; the publication of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan; Ireland’s participation in the UN Food Systems Summit; the development of a new strategy for the horticulture sector; the launch of a new flagship environmental scheme, ACRES; the publication of Ireland’s first National Bioeconomy Action Plan for the period 2023-2025; and the hosting of the first National Dialogue on Women in Agriculture.
I continue to work closely with all stakeholders in gaining, maintaining, restoring and enhancing access for Irish agri-food products to a wide range of priority markets. This includes participating in an ongoing programme of trade missions and promotional activities, in cooperation with Bord Bia. 2022 saw record agri-food exports valued at €19 billion, up 32% in value from €14.3 billion in 2020.
I believe Food Vision provides a vision for a dynamic, sustainable and innovative agri-food sector ready to adapt and to embrace change for a more sustainable future. I am confident that, with Food Vision 2030 as a strategic framework, Ireland’s agri-food sector will achieve its ambition to become a world leader in sustainable food systems.
