The target of reaching €12bn worth of agri-food exports by 2020 is still achievable according to a new report published today by Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney. The report, however, states that number of issues including access to increased credit as well as the opening of new markets need to be addressed.

From a baseline export figure of €8.2bn in 2008, exports now stand at €10.3bn for 2013. The target of Food Harvest 2020 is to reach an export value of €12bn by 2020.

“This is a growth sector with ambition and promise and more importantly promise on which it is delivering. We set ourselves stretch targets, to grow the value of our exports and value-added production by 40% by 2020. We are well on our way, as since Food Harvest was published in 2010, their value has risen by 24% and 23% respectively,” Minister Coveney said.

The Food Harvest 2020 implementation group said that, in particular, the area of credit needs to be addressed. The report states: “The provision of credit… should be specifically monitored with a view to ensuring the growth of viable businesses is not inhibited through lack of credit.”

As the primary focus of Food Harvest 2020 is driving exports, the report says that great supports should be given to exporters. “Government should consider the specific needs of the food and beverages sector in its deliberation on short term export credit insurance scheme.”

In terms of the different sectors, dairy and pigs have seen the largest growth in terms of volume and value. The output value of Irish dairying has increased 42% to stand at €2.05bn with a volume increase of 10%. Pigmeat volume has increased 18% with a value of 54% to stand at €476m.

Beef value has increased 39% but has seen a volume decrease of 2%. The value of the beef export sector now stands at €2.157bn.