Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2013
1042. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether the targets of Food Harvest 2020 are achievable; if he is monitoring and reviewing progress; if his attention has been drawn to predictions that an expansion level of between only 20 and 30 per cent is realistically attainable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16994/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am confident that the industry developed targets set out in Food Harvest 2020 are achievable.
The main targets in the Food Harvest report are by 2020 to increase the value of
- Agriculture, food (including seafood) and drink exports by 42%
- Primary output in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector by 33% and
- Value added production by 40%
- In addition, a 50% increase in milk production and 78% increase in the volume of aquaculture production is envisaged.
Progress on these targets and the 215 recommendations in the Food Harvest report are monitored and reviewed on an ongoing basis by the Food Harvest High Level Implementation Committee (HLIC) . The HLIC, which I chair, consists of the senior officials of all state agencies involved in the agriculture, food and fisheries sector. Their second report "Milestones for Success 2012", published last July, provides a detailed account of progress achieved to date on all the recommendations in FH2020 (link following).
http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/agri-foodindustry/foodharvest2020/Report2012Milestonesforsucces021112.pdf
In relation to your specific query, I am pleased to note that by end 2012, the value of overall primary production had risen by 21%, (2020 target 33%) and that the value of exports had increased by 12%, (2020 target 42%). By end 2010, the latest data available from the CSO, value added production had improved by 5.6%.
As you will be aware, the volume of milk production is currently constrained by EU quotas. Significant volume increase will not take place until the EU milk quotas are abolished in 2015. In the meantime, steps are being taken at primary and commercial level, through initiatives such as the dairy efficiency programme, capital investment in processing equipment, marketing and trade promotions, to ensure that the industry can capitalise on this valuable opportunity.
Volume increase has already been achieved in fish processing levels which have risen by over 60% on the Food Harvest baseline figures.
