Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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730. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 58 of 8 June 2016, and his comments in respect of Ireland's commitment to United Nations sustainable development goal two, end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture, and in view of the fact that red meat is the most carbon-intensive source of protein in the world, the way the Food Wise 2025 strategy is compatible with the United Nations goal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22299/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal Number 2 “Zero Hunger” aims to “end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture”. Food security is defined by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) as: “a situation that exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life”.

At international level, Ireland’s development aid programme has a strong focus on food and nutrition, including through funding from my own Department to the UN FAO and WFP (World Food Programme). In 2015 my Department doubled its annual contribution of untied aid to the WFP to €20 million a year for each of the next three years. The WFP feeds 80 million of the most malnourished people in 80 countries and significantly contributes to the goal of zero hunger.

At national level, food security is addressed through a range of Government policies providing social protection and supports for low income, disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. Furthermore the Food Dudes and Food Dudes Boost programmes, managed by Bord Bia and co-funded by my Department under the EU School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme will be run in 700 national schools this year, reaching around 113,000 pupils.

Specifically in relation to the carbon efficiency of red meat, Ireland’s temperate climate and plentiful rainfall favours a grass-based system of beef and sheep production, resulting in significant carbon efficiencies:

- the maintenance of our permanent pastures which act as a carbon sink;

- a reduced dependence on imported cereals for animal feed; and

- the production of beef which is independently recognised as being both environmentally and resource efficient, and with the fifth lowest carbon footprint per unit of output in the EU.

The Food Wise strategy aims to grow the Irish agri-food sector in an economic, environmental and socially sustainable manner, building on our strengths in the production of safe, healthy and nutritious food. Ireland is already one of the EU’s most efficient producers of both milk and beef, in terms of carbon footprint per unit of output. But under Food Wise we are implementing measures to drive down the carbon intensity of our food production even further, resulting in both economic returns and environmental sustainability.