The Department of Agriculture is to be quizzed on the future of the beef sector by the Joint Oireacthas Committee on Agriculture.

Officials from the Department will face questioning on the opportunities identified for beef as part of Food Wise 2025.

It will focus particularly on whether the plan’s goals are achievable.

Plan

The 10-year plan for the agri-food sector projects exports to grow to €19bn per year by 2025.

This represents an 85% increase from the current three-year average.

It is envisaged this growth will be driven primarily by expansion in dairy, beef, seafood and consumer food and drink exports.

It is hoped that that the information provided by the Department ... will assist the committee in assessing if the goal ... is achievable

Ahead of the meeting, committee chair Pat Deering said: “The strengths and weaknesses of the beef sector will be discussed, along with future opportunities, and it is hoped that that the information provided by the Department in this regard will assist the committee in assessing if the goal of increasing exports to €19bn per annum is achievable, with a public consultation to follow.”

Commitment

The meeting is part of the committee’s commitment to put together a report on the future viability of the beef sector.

Submissions from the public, along with information gathered from witnesses to the committee, will be used to formulate the report.

Deering added: “The ultimate aims of the report will be to illustrate the viability, or otherwise, of the beef sector in the pursuance of the goal of increasing exports as set out in Food Wise 2025 and to provide recommendations which will assist in strengthening the beef sector as a whole.

“This will be done through a detailed investigation of the information received by the Department.”

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