Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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553. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on recent progress with the Food Vision 2030 strategy. [36496/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Food Vision 2030, Ireland’s stakeholder-led strategy for the agri-food sector, has the potential to transform our agriculture, food, forestry, and marine sectors, with environmental, economic and social sustainability at its core. Food Vision aims for Ireland to be “A World Leader in Sustainable Food Systems”. It was designed using a food systems approach, recognising the requirement to have greater policy coherence across agriculture, food, and the environment. Food Vision has four high-level Missions:

- Mission 1: A Climate Smart, Environmentally Sustainable Agri-Food Sector.

- Mission 2: Viable and Resilient Primary Producers, with Enhanced Wellbeing.

- Mission 3: Food that is Safe, Nutritious and Appealing, Trusted and Valued at Home and Abroad.

- Mission 4: Innovative, Competitive and Resilient Agri-Food Sector, Driven by Technology and Talent.

I am committed to leading on Food Vision as we seek to deliver on our ambitions. I established a High-Level Implementation Committee and have chaired eleven meetings to date, with the next meeting planned for October. Its key task is to ensure the delivery of the four Missions through stakeholder collaboration.

The second Food Vision Annual Report detailing progress was published in June 2024. In terms of overall progress to date, 20 actions (9%) are complete, 121 actions (55%) have substantial action undertaken, and 75 actions (34%) have commenced and are progressing. Among the key achievements described in the Report are: Ireland’s new Forestry Programme; the new Horticulture Strategy; the Bioeconomy Action Plan; the National Fertiliser Database; the National Dialogue on Women in Agriculture; the Food Waste Prevention Roadmap; Ireland’s 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan; the Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development; the establishment of An Rialálaí Agraibhia (Agri-Food Regulator); the Genotyping Programme; the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme; the Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme; the Beef Welfare Scheme, securing Irish Grass Fed Beef as a Protected Geographical Indication; a National Farm Safety Measure; the Animal Health Surveillance Strategy (2023-2028); and the Thematic Research Call & Ireland – New Zealand Joint Research Initiative.

A new Food Vision 2030 dashboard is being developed to establish baseline environmental, economic and social data and to monitor progress against the goals. The dashboard is current being finalised with a phased launch to stakeholders expected to begin shortly. Following this, the dashboard will be made available to the public through Gov.ie.

I'm confident that, with Food Vision 2030 as a strategic framework, Ireland’s agri-food sector will achieve its ambition to become a world leader in sustainable food systems.