The formal launch of the new agri-food strategy, Food Vision 2030, by the Taoiseach and Minister for Agriculture provides a useful snapshot of Government aspirations and policies for Irish agriculture over the next decade.

Chair of the group, Tom Arnold, has done an excellent job not only in hammering out a consensus among a large disparate group, but also in stitching in a sense of openness to new developments that may be of real importance.

While the overall framework is the achievement of a 50% increase in the value of food and drink exports over the period, there is a sensible recognition that some constraints are going to have to be tackled.

The acknowledgment that the science around methane emissions is evolving and the commitment to keep track of developments in controlling them is sensible and welcome

Chief among these are carbon emissions that have been set to meet legally binding targets and environmental criteria, especially water quality.

The acknowledgment that the science around methane emissions is evolving and the commitment to keep track of developments in controlling them is sensible and welcome. The commitment has to be pursued and steps taken to ensure that methane reduction developments are taken account of in legislation as it develops.

The other main area that is isolated out is the importance of farm incomes.

The relatively new long-term land leasing rules are an example that drive change and show what can be achieved

What is less clear is how these are to keep pace with the rest of the community. While enhanced bargaining power in the food chain, producer groups with negotiating rights and the role of co-ops as well as continuing research and development are all mentioned, the farm organisations – especially the IFA and Macra na Feirme –are going to have to help in developing tax and other policies, especially carbon capture payments, that make farming an attractive occupation.

The relatively new long-term land leasing rules are an example that drive change and show what can be achieved.

Bord Bia already bans its use on any products that qualify under its quality assurance schemes

I was interested to read in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) submission that there is a questioning of the application of municipal sludge to agricultural land.

Some EU countries already ban it and, according to the EPA, the EU is undertaking a new study on the possible effects.

Bord Bia already bans its use on any products that qualify under its quality assurance schemes.

By far the most intemperate of the outside submissions came from An Taisce which claimed that the plan is in breach of national and EU law and maintains that Irish agriculture has passed the tipping point of unsustainability. One wonders about An Taisce’s credibility at this stage.