Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

303. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he continues to encourage the growth of the food producing sector here in line with general economic expansion and the success of this sector over the past number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12723/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Food Wise 2025, the ten year strategy for the agrifood sector, identifies opportunities and challenges facing the sector and provides an enabling strategy to allow the sector to grow and prosper. It includes recommendations on the cross-cutting themes of sustainability, innovation, human capital, market development and competitiveness; as well as specific sectoral recommendations. Driving the implementation of these recommendations, particularly on market development, competitiveness and innovation as well as moving up the value chain, will assume even greater importance in the light of the UK decision.

Diversification of exports remains a key focus. Over half of the growth in Irish food and drink exports since 2010 has come from markets outside of the European Union. This includes a six fold increase in exports to China, more than doubling of trade to North America and South East Asia and an increase of almost 40% in the value of exports to the Middle East and Africa. The value of exports to EU markets other than the UK increased by 40% since 2010 led by growth to Germany, France, Poland, Northern Europe and the Netherlands.

The UK is expected to remain just 60% self-sufficient in food and therefore will continue to have a significant import requirement post Brexit. Bord Bia activities in the UK market are focused on working with key customers to deepen existing relationships and identifying opportunities to meet emerging needs in the market.

In relation to other European and international markets Bord Bia has adopted an Insights driven approach to identifying new opportunities, backed up by in-market activities to help companies identify potential leads and develop new business opportunities. These activities include 24 international Trade Fairs in 2017 which will attract over 1 million buyers, increased market presence through new offices in Singapore and Warsaw and increased resources in Africa.

Activities undertaken are developed and implemented in close consultation with industry.

Given the rate of population growth in many emerging regions, the corresponding growth in demand for food and limited self-sufficiency, import demand for food products continues to grow. Irish exporters have been successful at establishing a good understanding of the market requirements in regions such as Asia, Africa and the Middle East and are well placed to avail of further growth opportunities as they emerge over the coming years. The further growth anticipated in dairy output, the continued drive of the meat sector to deliver added value solutions and the potential for growth in beverages, seafood and prepared foods all point to further growth potential.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

304. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he continues to monitor the prospects for the dairy, beef, lamb, pigmeat, poultry and fishing sectors here with a view to maximisation of opportunities with consequent economic benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12724/17]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

305. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which he remains committed to the concept of support for the family-farm enterprise, having particular regard to any particular challenges or threats; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12725/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 304 and 305 together.

My Department monitors farm income and structures, and market prospects for all sectors, on an ongoing basis. Data and analysis is published on my Department’s website and particularly in publications such as the “Annual Review and Outlook for Agriculture, Food and the Marine”.

In terms of planning for the future, Food Wise 2025, the ten year strategy for the agrifood sector, identifies the opportunities and challenges facing the sector and provides an enabling strategy that will allow the sector to grow and prosper. Food Wise includes more than 400 specific recommendations, spread across the cross-cutting themes of sustainability, innovation, human capital, market development and competitiveness; as well as specific sectoral recommendations.

With regard to the challenges facing the sector, particularly the significant challenge arising from the UK’s vote to leave the EU, it is important to understand that Food Wise is a living and evolving strategy. I will chair the ninth meeting of the High Level Implementation Committee (HLIC), with high level representatives from all the relevant Departments and State agencies, this week. The committee reviews progress on detailed actions on a quarterly basis, in order to identify and solve problems quickly. Brexit has now been included as a standard item on the agenda of each meeting of the HLIC. It is clear that driving the implementation of the Food Wise recommendations, particularly those related to market development, competitiveness and innovation, will assume even greater importance in the light of the UK decision.

Food Wise is not just about expanding production, I believe that moving up the value chain where possible, in terms of the type of products sold and how they are produced, is a fundamental hedge against all kinds of volatility, including the weakness in sterling we have seen since the Brexit vote.