Draft Agri-Food Strategy 2030

Draft Agri-Food Strategy 2030 Draft for Public Consultation April 2021 1 Foreword Being asked to develop a vision for the Irish agri-food sector up to 2030 was a privilege and opportunity. That was the spirit in which the 2030 Agri-Food Committee commenced its work in November 2019, a few weeks before the COVID pandemic was to change our lives. The Committee was asked to outline the vision and key objectives, with associated actions, to ensure the economic, environmental and social sustainability of the sector in the decade ahead. In developing a Strategy, a ‘food systems approach’ was used, which recognises the interconnectedness between policies for food, environment and health; and acknowledges that each actor in the food chain from farm to fork has an important role in developing a sustainable food system. The 2030 Strategy is the fifth national agri-food strategy since 2000, developed by a broad range of stakeholders from across the sector. This Strategy has certain continuities with its predecessors but it signals significant changes in direction and policy. The Strategy’s central objective is that Ireland should become an international leader in Sustainable Food Systems (SFSs) over the next decade. A Sustainable Food System is profitable throughout (economic sustainability), has broad-based benefits for society (social sustainability) and has a positive or neutral impact on the natural environment (environmental sustainability). The key to leadership in Sustainable Food Systems is to achieve a genuine balance between the three dimensions of sustainability. The Strategy makes policy recommendations around four Missions: 1. A Climate Smart, Environmentally Sustainable Agri-Food Sector; 2. Viable and Resilient Primary Producers with Enhanced Wellbeing; 3. Food that is Safe, Nutritious and Appealing: Trusted and Valued at Home and Abroad; 4. An Innovative, Competitive and Resilient Agri-Food Sector, Driven by Technology and Talent. Each of these Missions has a set of Goals that are underpinned by a series of Actions. Achieving such a leadership position should meet the needs of the Irish society but should also differentiate Ireland in its international trading relationships. Meeting the highest standards of sustainability in all its forms can provide the basis for competitive advantage for the sector. The 2020s context will be driven by consumers, trade customers, and society, domestically and internationally, requiring food to be produced more sustainably. Most of the growth in population over the next 30 years will take place in Asia and Africa, with growing middle class populations with the capacity to pay for more diversified and higher quality diets. The UK will continue to be Ireland’s largest market for food and drink but Brexit will mean it will become more competitive. 2 The Strategy recognises that the fisheries and seafood sector faces particular challenges arising from the outcome of the final Brexit negotiations. There will be keen political and public interest in how the Strategy’s proposals for achieving environmental sustainability link to the national target in the Climate Action Amendment Bill of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. The Strategy proposes that the agri-food sector should also have this target, which is in line with the approach taken by other major food exporting countries and leading agri-food businesses. Ambitious targets for 2030 are set, involving reduced emissions of biogenic methane and ammonia, improved water quality and increased biodiversity. AgClimatise, drawn up after consultation with industry, farmers and environmental groups, and published last December, set out the first steps towards achieving these targets. The Strategy proposes additional measures to build on the AgClimatise commitments. The other strands of policy to achieve the sector’s climate neutrality objective are measures to increase its role in carbon sequestration, especially through forestry, and the scale-up of renewable energy sources, through anaerobic digestion, solar energy and greater energy efficiency. The coming decade will see carbon farming offering a potential new source of income for farmers, which will require a new regulatory framework at EU and national level to underpin payments. Payment for the delivery of other eco-system services are also envisaged. The Strategy signals policies to make the sector more diversified, resilient, and based on circular economy principles, including new targets for reducing food waste. It proposes expansion in nature-based production systems, tillage, horticulture and organic production. But the core of Ireland’s agri-food output should continue to be grass-based livestock production. In much of the developed world, there should be a move towards more plant- based diets in the interest of public health. But this does not mean that Ireland should make radical changes from its role as a producer and exporter of safe, high quality and sustainably produced livestock products: this would not make sense from an economic, environmental or global nutrition perspective. The draft Strategy now goes for a two-month public consultation period. This should enable a genuine national conversation, facilitated by four Food Systems Dialogues (FSDs), organised by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Foreign Affairs in partnership with the Royal Dublin Society. These Dialogues will contribute to Ireland’s position at the UN’s Food Systems Summit in September, where Ireland has the opportunity to play a leadership role. In the lead up to the finalisation of the draft Strategy, the Environmental Pillar representative withdrew from the 2030 Committee, stating their view that the Pillar’s recommendations were insufficiently reflected in the draft. This withdrawal was a matter of regret for the Committee. It is hoped that the Pillar will be actively involved in the public consultation process and will subsequently re-engage with the Committee as the Strategy is finalised during the summer. It is in Ireland’s interest that the Strategy can attract a wide level of political and societal consensus: this will be the best basis for ensuring its implementation and for it to be recognised as a truly national policy. 3 The coming decade will present many challenges but also big opportunities for the Irish agri-food sector. Becoming a leader in Sustainable Food Systems is an achievable goal for Ireland which would generate trade and economic benefits as well as increased international influence. Translating an international leadership role in Sustainable Food Systems to benefits for those working in the sector is at the heart of the Strategy. Supportive EU and national policies; the market paying higher prices for certain products; society being willing to pay farmers and fishers for certain eco-system services, will each play their part. The Strategy contributes to a vision of a post-COVID world where the important link between food and health is recognised and reflected in policy; where investment in regional and rural development promotes more balanced settlement and work patterns; and where sustainability is at the heart of public policy. I want to conclude with some thanks. Seán Bell, Karl Walsh and Wila Bruce represented the DAFM secretariat who drafted the Strategy. They demonstrated an enormous capacity to get through a large amount of drafting with great efficiency, patience and unfailing good humour. They drew on the expertise of other Departmental colleagues and were supported by Assistant Secretary General, Sinéad McPhillips and the Secretary General of the Department, Brendan Gleeson. Finally, I want to thank the members of the 2030 Agri-Food Committee who showed great commitment to our task and contributed mightily to the final Strategy. Although we had to do our work in the time of COVID, it was done in a real spirit of positivity. For my own part, it has been an honour and a pleasure to have chaired the process. Tom Arnold Chair, 2030 Agri-Food Strategy Committee 4 Stakeholder Committee Terms of Reference The Committee will prepare and present to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, a strategy for the development of the agri-food sector for the period to 2030. The strategy will 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. The Committee’s report will be short, specific and cross-sectoral, with ambitious but realistic actions. Membership Tom Arnold Chairperson Sharon Buckley Group Commercial Director, Musgraves Laura Burke Director General, EPA Ailish Byrne Head of Agri, Ulster Bank Kieran Calnan Chair, Bord Iascaigh Mhara Philip Carroll Chair, IBEC Meat Industry Ireland Karen Ciesielski* Coordinator, Environmental Pillar Frank Convery Senior Partner, EnvEcon Tim Cullinan President, IFA Thomas Duffy President, Macra na Feirme Brendan Dunford Manager, Burren Programme Julie Ennis Country President, Sodexo Ireland Paul Finnerty Co-Founder & Chairman, Yield Lab Europe Thia Hennessy Dean & Chair Agri-Economics, UCC 5 Liam Herlihy Chair, Teagasc Martin Higgins Chair, FSAI Caroline Keeling CEO, Keelings Jerry Long President, ICOS Oliver Loomes Chair, IBEC Drinks Ireland and Ireland Director & Chairman, Diageo Dan MacSweeney Chair, Bord Bia Pat McCormack President, ICMSA Tom Moran Former Secretary General, DAFM Brian Murphy Chair, IBEC Forest Industries Ireland and CEO, Balcas Pat Murphy Chair, IBEC

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