Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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141. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline his Department's long-term strategy for Irish agriculture in the context of climate action, food security and changing consumer trends; his views on the future direction of the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25748/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The agri-food sector has benefited from an approach to strategic planning through the development of stakeholder-led strategies. Since their inception over twenty years ago, these have ensured that the sector has a coherent vision to underpin its continued development.

Food Vision 2030 is Ireland’s current stakeholder-led agri-food strategy, developed for the sector by the sector. Its vision is that Ireland will become a “World Leader in Sustainable Food Systems”. Working together, all the stakeholders have committed to transform our agriculture, food, forestry, and marine sectors to achieve environmental, economic and social sustainability.

Food Vision 2030 was designed using a food systems approach, recognising the requirement to have greater policy coherence across agriculture, food, and the environment. It contains four high-level Missions that encompass climate action, food security and changing consumer trends, amongst others:

• Mission 1, “A Climate Smart, Environmentally Sustainable Agri-Food Sector”, aims for a climate-neutral food system by 2050, with measurable progress by 2030. This includes emissions reductions, carbon sequestration, improvements in air quality, restoration and enhancement of biodiversity, improvements in water quality, development of diverse forests, enhanced seafood sustainability, exploring the bioeconomy and strengthening Origin Green.
• Mission 2, “Viable and Resilient Primary Producers, with Enhanced Wellbeing”, places primary producers, our farmers, fishers and foresters, at the centre and aims to improve competitiveness and productivity, increase the creation of value and distribute it fairly, introduce greater diversification in production systems and incomes and to improve the social sustainability of primary producers.
• Mission 3, “Food which is Safe, Nutritious and Appealing, Trusted and Valued at Home and Abroad”, looks to protect and build on our global reputation as a trusted supplier of high quality, safe, sustainable food to consumers at home and abroad, built on sustainable, steady value growth. This Mission aims to prioritise coherent food and health policies for better health outcomes, to enhance consumer trust in our food system, to create value add through insight, innovation and product differentiation.
• Mission 4, “Innovative, Competitive and Resilient Agri-Food Sector, Driven by Technology and Talent”, promotes challenge focused innovation, enhanced digital adoption and a dynamic skills avenue to future proof the sector.