As 2020 dawned, Ireland’s agribusiness industry was in a good place, albeit with clouds on the horizon such as Brexit, CAP reform, the impact of the EU Green Deal and a likely general election. Then, of course, COVID-19 hit and changed everything.

As the world works through this unprecedented crisis, it has become clear that the result will be a “new normal” across many industries, including agribusiness.

While the full impact of potential changes is not yet clear, one thing that is certain is that a fundamental driver of this change will be sustainability, in all of its aspects.

We, in KPMG, are delighted to partner with the Irish Farmers Journal for this, our eighth annual Irish Farmers Journal/KPMG Agribusiness report.

Reflecting the impact of sustainability on all aspects of our sector, this year’s report is devoted to the topic.

You will read a range of interviews with key global influencers from across the sustainability spectrum.

These interviews provide real insight as to likely future developments in this area – and the consequent effects on Irish agribusiness.

Challenging

These are challenging times for all of us as we grapple with the effects of COVID-19 and Brexit. However, we must also look to the future. As an industry we must embrace the sustainability agenda.

We should also be assertive about how best to adopt many aspects of sustainability.

We are rightly proud of what we as an industry produce and a continued focus on producing high-quality, sustainable food and drink will confirm Ireland’s position as a global leader in food production, and will benefit future generations around the world.