Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 8: To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Fisheries and Food if he will provide an update on the targets agreed in Food Harvest 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27712/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The main targets set under Food Harvest 2020 were to: increase the value of primary output in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors by €1.5 billion, a 33% increase on the 2007-09 average; increase the value added in the agri-food, fisheries and wood products sectors by 40% compared to 2008; achieve an export target of €12 billion for the sector, representing a 42% increase compared to the 2007-09 average.

The CSO data shows that the value of the agri-food and fisheries sector has shown a significant increase in 2010 over 2009 values. Specifically, the value of overall primary output increased by 28% in 2010. This included a 40% increase in the value of milk output, a 1.8% increase for beef, an 81% increase for cereals and a 9% increase for pigs. In 2010, total food and drink exports reached €7,884 million, an increase of 11% on 2009 figures. The current trend in exports is also positive, with the first six months of 2011 showing a 14% improvement on the same period in 2010. Final year projections are for exports of the order of €8.9 billion.

These underlying trends provide a sound basis for achieving the Food Harvest 2020 targets. To secure success I set out interim milestones for 2013 and 2015. These are laid out in the document, Milestones for Success, which I launched this summer.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

These are:

I am driving progress on the Food Harvest 2020 report and, through the efforts of the high level implementation committee, I consider that good progress has been made in the past year, as illustrated by the export figures outlined. Details of all initiatives being pursued to date were published in Milestones for Success last July. This is the first progress report on Food Harvest 2020 implementation and is now available on the Department's website at www.agriculture.gov.ie.