Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)

I meet individuals from Talamh Beo at different events. It has a role to play. We need to get a handle on why Ireland is one of the most food secure nations in the world according to key metrics. It is not because we produce every bit of food that is consumed on the island; it is because of the highly integrated nature of our food supply system around the world. It means from an environmental perspective, food should be produced where it can be produced most efficiently.

If we look at our livestock system, we can see that our beef, sheep and dairy produce are part of a pasture-based system. It is a much better system for that produce to be raised with our livestock animals like cows and sheep out on grass for the vast majority of the year, looking at the sky, eating green grass and not in a shed or an intensive system. We produce it more efficiently here. We export 90% of the food and drink we produce. That is of a highly integrated nature. The high-protein, nutrient-dense rich food is of great value and feeds millions of our population.

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