Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I welcome the Food Harvest 2020 report prepared by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The Minister has outlined the backdrop of the global increased need for food and the limited number of places on the planet that will be able to produce it. In light of all we have heard in recent weeks about the state of our economy, when we see an industry with the potential to grow, we certainly need reports like this, but we also need action. The report presents a constructive catalogue of actions which need to be taken to develop Ireland's agrifood sector.

The Taoiseach has said more than 4,000 jobs could be created by increasing milk output by 50%, beef output by 20% and other sectors equivalently. I am very glad that the Government has woken up to the fact that the humble cow produces €1.1 billion worth of milk. Everyone accepts we can develop our agrifood sector and increase exports from €7 billion to €12 billion. All the additional economic activity and tax take that would create would be very welcome given the current budget deficit.

While we can create thousands of new jobs in food companies and on farms, asking the farmers to double their production is not going to be enough, and asking farmers to be green and smart is not enough. We need to be smart in the way we organise what we, as legislators, do from here. Smart farmers are looking at whether they can survive another collapse in the price of milk and continuing low prices and volatility in other sectors in recent years which brought the average farm income down to €11,968 according to Teagasc. Smart farmers are wondering whether they should recommend their son or daughter to choose farming as a career path or look for an alternative. Smart farmers are wondering why the income at which a farm is considered viable in the Food Harvest 2020 report at €14,908 is only just above the poverty level. While I am not trying to be critical of the report, it is a fundamental weakness to base its projections from this point.

Having a brand has been mentioned here and is certainly addressed in the Bord Bia Pathways to Growth document. We have a brand and we have a green image on which we need to capitalise. Everyone along the way needs to benefit and be seen to be given a fair deal. We produce lots of grass; it is a natural resource that no other country has to the level we have. We have no oil, iron or coal, but we have 4.4 million hectares that is still fit for growing the best of diary cows, cattle, sheep and crops, and it has not been built on, poisoned or compromised. Grass provides the food for more than 80% of agricultural output and is the raw material for the multi-billion euro dairy industry. It is what gives us a competitive edge on our European competitors. The significant growth which is identified in the Food Harvest 2020 report and the consequent jobs in the rural farming sector need to be explained and we need clarification on the actions that need to happen.

We still have skilled, hard working, innovative workers on the land, who believe in the future of agriculture or they would not have stuck with it in recent years. They believe in the value of high quality product and have made significant investments of time and money on infrastructure to sweat their asset as much as they can and to turn it into real income. We can develop a smart economy on the basis of a manufacturing industry.

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