Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I concluded my first in-person trade mission to China last Friday. During this visit I had engagements with Chinese Government counterparts, and with leading Chinese customers for Irish agri-food products. I also visited the SIAL food and beverage trade fair, and attended two EU-funded Seminars promoting EU dairy and meat production systems.

In all of these engagements I outlined the Sustainable Food Systems approach which the Irish agri-food sector is taking to its development, as outlined in our Food Vision 2030 strategy. I underlined that Ireland is a global leader in terms of safety, sustainability and traceability of our production systems, both on-farm and in our processing sector.

I confirmed that Ireland's approach to food systems and food security is underpinned by high animal health and welfare standards, the application of technology at farm level, the latest breeding and genetics in livestock and crop sectors, and the application of strict public health controls along the whole food chain.

This Trade Mission has confirmed that there is a strong demand in China for the high-quality, safe and sustainably produced agri-food products which our farmers, fishers, and food and drink companies are producing.