The Food Harvest 2020 race is now over half run and the Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, has produced the latest Milestones for Success report which provides an update on the €12 billion agri-food roadmap.

Minister Coveney said that the industry is enjoying a period of strong success and all signs point to continuous growth for the sector. In 2012, food and drink exports exceeded €9bn for the first time, which means that over the last three years these exports have risen by €2bn or 28%.

The Minister also highlighted that employment figures in the sector grew by 1,200 jobs in 2012.

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“There is great confidence and excitement in the industry at present and I am very aware of the tremendous work being done sector-wide by farmers, producers, processors and entrepreneurs to implement progressive plans and programmes to achieve Food Harvest 2020 aspirations,” Minister Coveney said.

There will be full analysis on the Food Harvest targets in next week’s paper.