There are a number of enterprises where, on suitable land, Ireland has a unique set of favourable conditions.

We are inclined to think that hi-tech IT, pharmaceuticals and medical devices are the future, but high-quality food still has to be produced.

While dairying is the standout example, tillage productivity here is very high by international standards.

But Irish dairying has a number of key attributes that are not widely shared.

I had not realised that total New Zealand exports of dairy products had been roughly flat for the last five years

This really came home to me as I listened to a webinar hosted by a New Zealand-based group. I had not realised that total New Zealand exports of dairy products had been roughly flat for the last five years. Its grass-based system and free access to world markets, especially China, have given it an almost unique capacity to consistently generate profits.

The total halt in the expansion of the New Zealand dairy sector has been brought about by a Government determination to prevent more land moving into dairying.

At the time dairy quotas were introduced, the Netherlands had a milk quota of nine times the Irish level per utilisable hectare

A friend with a good knowledge of the country confirmed that it is almost impossible to get a permit to start up a new dairy farming enterprise while all the time there is a continuous, though limited, movement into high-value crops such as kiwi fruit and even wine.

Ireland does not have these options but neither do we have the same constraints nor should they be introduced.

At the time dairy quotas were introduced, the Netherlands had a milk quota of nine times the Irish level per utilisable hectare.

Since then, with the removal of quotas, the Irish dairy herd has expanded by nearly 50% and the Dutch herd has been reduced somewhat, but the Irish scope to expand in dairying is very clear.

The direction for national policy should be clear

With a good infrastructure of co-op-based processing facilities, a modern road network and farms with full environmentally acceptable wintering facilities, coupled with a non-irrigated grass-based system, there is no reason why it should not be official policy to ensure that dairy expansion is encouraged in line with market potential and scientifically rigorous environmental sustainability.

It is clear from current research that regardless of the arguments over methane potency as a greenhouse gas, feed additives and vaccines will have the capacity to remove the methane issue as an argument against bovine expansion.

The direction for national policy should be clear.