A public consultation on the next strategy for the agri food sector to 2030 was opened on Wednesday.

Submissions must be made in the areas of the bioeconomy, labour shortages, changing consumer trends, risk management and CAP reform, to name just a few.

In launching the public consultation, the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed said: “While Food Wise has been instrumental in providing a framework for the sustainable growth of the sector, like all strategic plans, it must evolve and respond to rapidly changing circumstances.

“We are facing new challenges, in particular the uncertainty posed by the possibility of a no-deal Brexit, as well as the need for the sector to contribute effectively to climate action. There are also new and emerging opportunities for the sector, for example, in the bioeconomy.”

Questions

The Department also asks how to increase the uptake of practices that improve water and air quality, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and protect biodiversity.

When finalised, the strategy will be the successor to Food Wise 2025. The consultation is open until 1 October and there will also be an open policy debate held in the Aviva Stadium on 16 October.

Last year Irish food exports were valued at €12.11bn, falling short of the target of €19bn set in Food Wise 2025.

The target for the value of farm production is to increase by 65% to €10bn. In 2018 it reached €8.2bn.

Steps to Success

Steps to Success 2019, the fourth progress report on Food Wise 2025, was also launched.

Minister Creed said: “Steps to Success 2019 outlines continued progress in the development of the sector, including the ongoing market development work, which continues to broaden the range of different countries to which we export our agri food products and the opening of the new prepared consumer foods centre in Teagasc, Ashtown.”