This year’s Agricultural Science Association (ASA) conference welcomed over 400 delegates to discuss how the industry can remain competitive in an era of global change. A member survey conducted by the ASA found that 51% of professionals working in the agri-food industry believe Brexit could offer a positive opportunity for Ireland. The survey, carried out among members of the ASA, marks a significant increase in positive sentiment, up from 28% in 2016.

Brexit and other markets

Assistant secretary general in the Department of Agriculture, Brendan Gleeson said after Brexit: We want frictionless trade with the UK with no tariffs. The only formula for that is remaining within the customs unit and the single market.

“We’re not throwing up the white flag on the UK ... the UK is our largest market and most important market for livestock-based products, and we are committed to retaining an Irish presence on UK retail shelves,” he said.

However, Gleeson said the Department is continuing to explore alternative markets inside and outside the EU to counteract the Brexit threat.

“We have intensified our efforts to expand into third country markets but that’s a slow grind,” he said.

“We do a lot of work trying to open markets. From time to time, there is criticism with the pace of progress in opening markets but this is determined by the receiving country. The important thing is to open opportunities for companies in the most profitable countries,” Gleeson said.

Dawn Meats chief executive Niall Browne said: “As an industry, we need all stakeholders to be proactive and support the entire supply chain to be prepared for whichever scenario we end up having to deal with. We’ve faced many challenges over the years – foot and mouth, BSE – and we will face this one down and we will succeed.

“We do not have the detail we need to make business decisions in relation to Brexit.”

We’ve faced many challenges over the years – foot and mouth, BSE – and we will face this one down

Browne said that from an Irish beef industry point of view, a good Brexit for Ireland would be an EU27 trade agreement that is tariff- and barrier-free, with free and unfettered access to Britain.

Dawn Meats chief executive Niall Browne addressing the ASA conference

“We need to avoid regulatory divergence. This is vital. The maintenance of equivalent standards on food safety, animal health and welfare and the environment – if we can have the same standards, this should provide minimum disruption to trade and avoid standards being used as trade barriers.”

One area that Ireland needs to focus on at home is for EU state aid rules to be relaxed to support industrial investment.

The dairy labour dilemma

Ireland’s dairy industry needs to look outside of the EU for workers for the sector, IFA president Joe Healy told the conference. He said the IFA has made a submission to the Department of Enterprise in relation to permits for workers from outside of the EU.

Pat Dillon, head of the animal and grassland research and innovation programme with Teagasc said that the labour issue in the dairy industry is a big challenge and we need a vision for what type of industry we see going forward.

“I saw a report from Australia recently and their view of labour shortages was fewer farms. I don’t think that’s a model for Ireland," said Dillon.

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