‘Food Vision 2030’ aims to make Ireland world leader in sustainable food systems

Mixed reaction to plan that aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, with verifiable progress achieved by 2030

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An ambitious new roadmap for the agri-food sector, ‘Food Vision 2030’ was launched today by government, aiming to grow agri-food exports from €14bn to €21bn by 2030 and further enhance Ireland’s position as a “global leader in safe, sustainable agri-food exports”.

In a press statement released by the Department of Agriculture, the document sets out a vision whereby “Ireland will become a world leader in sustainable food systems over the next decade delivering benefits for the sector, for Irish society and the environment”.

‘Food Vision 2030’ has been developed by a cross-sectoral committee of agri-food stakeholders and “envisages a pathway to a position of world leadership based on progressing the three pillars of sustainability: economic, environmental and social.”

The goals are underpinned by a series of specific goals and actions, with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue to oversee the monitoring and implementation process for Food Vision 2030 with farm and fisher incomes central to the Minister’s ambition for the strategy.

“The vision of being a world leader in sustainable food systems acknowledges the challenges the sector faces, not least environmentally, but crucially it also charts a pathway for the future,” An Taoiseach Micheál Martin said at the policy’s launch.

“We accept the challenge put to government, to work with the sector in ensuring its future sustainability, economic, environmental and social, and in realising the inherent opportunities that presents,” An Taoiseach added.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue said the Committee led by Tom Arnold, has produced “a strategy that is balanced and credible, which identifies a significant opportunity for Ireland in moving to a position of world leadership in sustainable food systems”.

Minister McConalogue added that he welcomed the focus on ensuring that farmers fishers and food producers, are competitive and productive, with enhanced well-being and economic sustainability.

“The incomes of our producers are central and critical to the success of Food Vision 2030 as they are the bedrock of our world-class agri-food sector,” he said. “The strategy recognises the crucial role the sector has and will continue to play in rural and coastal communities, and in achieving balanced regional development for the country as a whole.”

However, while the strategy has been broadly welcomed, several groups have highlighted some issues within its details.

According to president of the Irish Creamery and Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) Pat McCormack, the ambitions contained in the document were both notable and achievable and there was no doubt that export values could be grown.

However, he added that the strategy was “crippled by our official inability or unwillingness to actually state categorically to the public that food prices must and will increase as part of that drive to become more sustainable”.

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