Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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79. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding the attainment, or the surpassing, of targets set out in Food Harvest 2020; the areas in respect of which he expects the better performance; the areas needing further attention in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7238/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am confident that the industry developed targets set out in Food Harvest 2020 are attainable and can be met. As the Deputy is aware, the main targets in the Food Harvest report are by 2020 to increase the value of:

- Primary output in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector by 33%;

- Value added production by 40%;

- Agriculture, food (including seafood) and drink exports by 42%;

In addition, a 50% increase in milk production following the abolition of the milk quotas and a 78% increase in the volume of aquaculture production is envisaged.

Progress on these targets and on the 215 recommendations in the Food Harvest report are monitored and reviewed on an ongoing basis. The fourth annual report “ Milestones for Success 2014”, published last September, showed that the sector had achieved very significant progress on these targets. Four and a half years into a 10 year strategy, the value of primary production has almost reached its target and export s have grown by 27% compared to its 2020 target of 42% growth. That report, link attached, also used case studies to illustrate the manner in which the Food Harvest 2020 vision of 'smart, green, growth' is being attained.



The CSO trade statistics for 2014, which were published last week show that the value of primary production has grown by 30%, value-added has increased by 23% and exports have grown by 27%, compared to the Food Harvest 2020 baseline period.

Based on these statistics, all targets are currently well on track but notwithstanding same, I regard it as opportune to continually review the internal and external environment so that we will continue to maximise the opportunities available to this indigenous sector. To that end, I have appointed a 2025 Agri-Food Strategy Committee to report back to me by end June with any key recommendations and actions they consider necessary to achieve this objective.