Professor Dolores O'Riordan:

The Deputy is correct, from both an animal and human nutrition point of view, that it would be good to see more investment in alternative protein research. Protein plays an important role in the food pyramid and animal proteins make up a large part of that. We have had the discussions. Although Ireland does well producing dairy and meat products from a sustainability point of view, they, nonetheless, have a much greater negative impact on the environment than, for example, protein from non-animal sources. Animal proteins are important from a nutritional point of view; one is not going to get the same nutritional profile from plant proteins. As a country that is reliant on dairy and beef exports, we should look at this from an animal feed perspective and look at sources of legumes that we could feed our animals. From both the animal and human nutritional point of view, a research programme in that area would be most welcome.