“It’s great to have a report at last. We now have a roadmap for the sector,” Hoey said.

“It’s reassuring to see that there is a commitment on the potatoes sector with regards to ongoing research and different ways of marketing potatoes. It’s crucial that we keep that going,” Hoey said.

Hoey, as well as being the managing director of Country Crest, is part responsible for attempting to kick-start the beet sector in Ireland. He expressed disappointment that there was not more attention paid to the sector in Food Wise 2025.

“One thing I would have liked to have seen is more on the sugar beet sector. There’s only one line and one mention in the whole report which is vague enough. I hope to see more there,” Hoey said.

Hoey also said that the wider tillage sector needs to see more research funds made available through Teagasc. Hoey said that the sector has been “starved of tillage advisers” and that he is “very worried” about that.

Country Crest is one of the largest suppliers of potatoes and vegetables to the Irish supermarket sector.