Tony Killeen, Fianna Fail TD for Clare, and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, has confirmed that submissions on a long term strategy for the development of the agri-food and fishing sector will be invited by the end of November.
The new strategy for the period up to 2020 is currently being developed and is expected to be completed around the middle of 2010. The Department and five State Agencies - Bord Bia, Teagasc, Enterprise Ireland, BIM and the Marine Institute - are jointly involved in the preparation of a series of papers on the main sectors, which will give an informed basis to a web-based public consultation process and request for submissions.
According to Minister of State Killeen: “It is clear that a new direction is needed for the Irish agri-food sector. A number of the chief executives of major food companies share the view that there is a need for a long-term strategic plan for the future of the industry, for which there is so much potential, especially given the projections for population growth over the next few decades.”
He continued: “The Department is keen to seen all those with a stake in the Irish agri-food sector participating actively in the process, which I hope will stimulate debate and provide some answers. There are no easy answers, but we must do everything possible to maximise the potential of the sector.”
“The strategy will represent a new departure and will set out what is needed to reposition Irish farming and food for growth in the years ahead”, the Minister of State concluded.
The new strategy for the period up to 2020 is currently being developed and is expected to be completed around the middle of 2010. The Department and five State Agencies - Bord Bia, Teagasc, Enterprise Ireland, BIM and the Marine Institute - are jointly involved in the preparation of a series of papers on the main sectors, which will give an informed basis to a web-based public consultation process and request for submissions.
According to Minister of State Killeen: “It is clear that a new direction is needed for the Irish agri-food sector. A number of the chief executives of major food companies share the view that there is a need for a long-term strategic plan for the future of the industry, for which there is so much potential, especially given the projections for population growth over the next few decades.”
He continued: “The Department is keen to seen all those with a stake in the Irish agri-food sector participating actively in the process, which I hope will stimulate debate and provide some answers. There are no easy answers, but we must do everything possible to maximise the potential of the sector.”
“The strategy will represent a new departure and will set out what is needed to reposition Irish farming and food for growth in the years ahead”, the Minister of State concluded.
