The UK food industry can’t operate without migrant labour, according to Greencore CEO, Patrick Coveney.

Seasonal crops can’t be harvested in Britain without immigrant labour, says Coveney.

“For us, 35% of our workforce in the UK is EU nationals. I don’t think you will end up with materially different levels of immigration into Britain post-Brexit than before.

“There will be greater levels of control but absolute numbers are very unlikely to change.”

In the context of Brexit, Coveney said that Greencore isn’t particularly exposed to Brexit as their products are manufactured locally.

“On the assumption that those domestic economies stay robust, we’ll be fine.

“What will be problematic, is what will happen with what Ireland [exports] to the UK.”

2017 Agribusiness Report

This is the fifth year of the Irish Farmers Journal /KPMG Agribusiness report, entitled Agricultural Thinking – inside the minds of global agri leaders, where the top Irish agribusiness leaders were interviewed to gain their insights into businesses.

Listen to Patrick Coveney and other speakers at the launch of the report in our podcast below:

Listen to "Speakers at Agribusiness report launch" on Spreaker.

The CEOs of Kerry Group, Glanbia, Greencore, Origin, Ornua and many others speak their minds in this report highlighting the changes that their organisations have made in the past and the changes they see necessary to ensure that they continue to grow and be successful.

Irish Farmers Journal subscribers can get exclusive early access to the digital edition of the report online now ahead of its release tomorrow. To subscribe visit: www.farmersjournal.ie/subscribe.

You can read a full copy of the report inside this week’s Irish Farmers Journal on 18 May.