Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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1095. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking in response to the withdrawal of the environmental pillar from the 2030 Agri-Food Strategy Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12178/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The agri-food sector has benefited from an approach to strategic planning through the development of 10-year stakeholder-led strategies, updated every five years. Since their inception twenty years ago, up to the current Food Wise 2025 plan, these strategies have ensured that the sector has a coherent, stakeholder-led vision and strategy to underpin the sector's continued development.

A Committee consisting of a broad range of stakeholders, including representatives from all parts of the food supply chain, academics, NGOs and State agencies, and chaired by Tom Arnold, was established in late 2019, and tasked with developing the agri-food strategy to 2030.

The Committee's terms of reference are to outline the vision and key objectives, with associated actions, required to ensure the economic, environmental and social sustainability of the agri-food sector in the decade ahead. Developing this strategy is a commitment of the Programme for Government.

I regret the decision of the Environmental Pillar to withdraw from the process, especially as it has not yet concluded. I have already said that I hope they will reconsider that decision and engage in the process as they still have an important role to play in the development of the Strategy to 2030.