We live in a world where population, and therefore demand for food, is increasing. The climate is changing in ways that are affecting the world’s capacity to grow food.

Consumer sentiment is being shaped by new cultural norms. Factors such as environmental sustainability and animal welfare are front and centre in industry and consumer-purchasing decisions.

Dietary science and pseudo-science compete for air space on media outlets we scarcely dreamed of 20 years ago.

The pace of technological development and innovation is unprecedented. COVID-19, Brexit and trade uncertainty in general are also part of a new reality.

This is the world in which Ireland’s farmers, food processors and fishers work. To prosper in this world, we need a vision that is strategic in scope

Indigenous industry

The agri-food sector is Ireland’s most important indigenous exporting industry. It plays a vital role in the national economy. Approximately 137,000 farms produce over €8bn in output.

We have over 770,000ha of forest, over 2,000 fishing vessels and a developing aquaculture sector. In 2019, Ireland’s food and agri foods products were exported to over 180 markets worldwide and valued at €14.5bn, a 63% increase from €8.9bn in 2010. The agri food sector is constantly evolving to meet the needs of its customers, domestically and internationally.

For Ireland, the challenge is to position our agri sector in this global framework in ways that allow it to grow and prosper. Overall, we are in a good place, but we can do more.

We have a strong international reputation as a supplier of safe, nutritious and sustainably produced food. International consumers seek out our food and beverage products in what is a very competitive international market.

We should be proud of this and work to build that reputation for the benefit of farmers, fishers and other stakeholders within the sector.

The agri-food sector has been well served over the last 20 years by having a series of 10-year strategies to guide its development. The new programme for government has committed that this should continue.

Updated strategy

A new 2030 strategy will be published within six months of Government formation. Shaped by sectoral stakeholders, it will provide an ambitious blueprint for the industry for the years ahead.

It will focus on issues such as added value, environmental sustainability, the linkages between health and nutrition and crucially, support for family farms and employment in rural Ireland. A new Common Agricultural Policy will play a critical role in delivering some of these objectives.

Sustainability

There are plenty of things that both farmers and the wider industry can do to transition to a more sustainable future. The recently published EU Farm to Fork strategy sets out a clear vision for food production, with the aim of making the EU food system a global standard for sustainability.

We need to particularly focus on nitrogen use efficiency and animal breeding technologies.

In this regard, it is important to state that we are not starting from a point of inaction. There are significant environmental measures already in place through the GLAS programme, the Beef Data Genomics Programme, and the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme, and much progress has already been made. For example:

It is also worth noting that farmers have planted over 300,000ha of forests since the 1990s. These forests have the potential to sequester up to 20mt of CO2 during the period from 2021 to 2030, which will contribute to meeting our climate change commitments.

Throughout this transition, we need to maintain farm economic viability, which is really what sustainability is all about.

I know the issue of carbon trading and carbon farming is something that we are all very keen to explore.

Other things that would potentially provide an alternative source of income for farmers, and the public goods they are providing for rural Ireland, must also be explored.

Confidence in Irish food

I am very optimistic for the Irish agri-food sector. Consumers and other purchasers all over the world have confidence in the quality and safety of its output. The sector has already proven itself to be a world leader in some of the critical success factors for future development.

The agri-food sector will remain the bedrock of rural Ireland into the future. I and my Department are determined to do everything we possibly can to support farmers and rural Ireland.

In this regard I look forward to working with stakeholders in the development of a vision for the sector for the next 10 years. And, in doing this, I commend the Irish Farmers Journal for its 2020 Vision initiative.

Climate challenges

The sustainability of Ireland’s food production system is well recognised internationally and acts a key competitiveness driver in international markets for Irish food producers.

Overall, there are five key things that we need to do while maintaining viable farm incomes in the sector.

A significant amount of work has already been done in the climate space, but we need to build on this over the coming years. However, I know we can do more in terms of building resilience and adopting measures, such as improving the utilisation of applied fertiliser inputs, can be a win-win for the farmer and the environment.