The process for developing the next 10-year agri-food strategy has commenced with the opening of a public consultation process on a draft Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Report for the Agri-Food Strategy 2030.

Scoping is the process of determining the range and level of detail environmental issues are to be taken forward.

Prior to making a decision on the information to be included in the environmental report, a wider non-statutory public consultation has been put in place to encourage further participation by stakeholders and the public.

Commenting on the consultation, Minister for Agriculture Dara Calleary said: “I am very pleased that in addition to consultation with the designated environmental authorities, my Department is conducting a wider non-statutory public consultation to help inform the scope of the environmental report.”

Environmental impact

The 2030 Strategy builds on its predecessor programmes, Food Harvest 2020 and, most recently, Food Wise 2025, the current agri-food strategy for smarter, greener, more sustainable growth of the industry.

The Department has procured RSK Ireland Limited to prepare an environmental report of the likely significant effects on the environment of implementing the strategy.

Public consultation

Opinions of consultees on the proposed methods, scope and areas of focus for the strategy should be forwarded before the closing date of 8 September.

The draft Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Report is available here.

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