Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Devising strategy is an ongoing and ever-evolving process. The Department and I are absolutely determined to identify new opportunities for our premier producers to improve and supplement their income. There are huge opportunities in a number of areas. When we talk about environmental elements, it tends to be with a fairly negative approach insofar as they may impact on agriculture, primary producers and farmers. However, if one looks at the bioeconomy, for example, there is potential for us to identify areas where, in the past, certain products were seen as waste elements within the food production process. There is scope to identify the value and added value such products may have. For instance, the €20 million Glanbia plant in Lisheen is taking what was a waste product and identifying potential out of it. The European Innovation Partnership, EIP, model in west Cork is making a range of uses out of the grass-fed dairy produce system, with really innovative outcomes. All of that is feeding into what our new research programme will look like, and we must ensure that marries with our 2025 agri-food strategy. It is an ongoing process and one we continue to monitor very closely.

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