Food Vision 2030 - A World Leader in Sustainable Food Systems

Food Vision 2030 Dashboard

The Food Vision 2030 Dashboard is a key component of the implementation and monitoring of Food Vision 2030 and the subsequent Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) that was carried out. The dashboard is being launched on a phased basis with phase 1 launched in October 2024 and phase 2 in March 2025. Phase 1 focused on Mission 1 environmental indicators and established baselines for environmental data that will be used to assess, monitor, and identify any significant environmental effects arising from the implementation of the strategy. Phase 2, expands the dashboard to include economic and social sustainability indicators for Missions 2, 3 and 4 and sets out to establish baselines for these key indicators and will be used to assess, monitor, and identify any significant economic and social effects arising from the implementation of the strategy. Phase 3 will be launched at a later date with the remaining indicators that are currently under development.

Please note that this version is the baseline data reporting from Q3 2024, it is envisaged that the dashboard will be updated annually to reflect data reporting for 2024/2025 where data is available.

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the data contained in this dashboard, in view of the volume of data, some errors may occur. Where these anomalies are identified, the Department will liaise to amend as required.

Access to the dashboard can be found at the following link: Food Vision 2030 Dashboard

The Food Vision 2030 Strategy is a new ten year Strategy for the Irish agri-food sector (taken to include primary agriculture, food and drink processing and manufacturing, fisheries, aquaculture and fish processing, forestry and forestry processing and the equine sector).

Its Vision is that Ireland will become a world leader in Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) over the next decade. This will deliver significant benefits for the Irish agri-food sector itself, for Irish society and the environment. In demonstrating the Irish agri-food sector meets the highest standards of sustainability – economic, environmental, and social – this will also provide the basis for the future competitive advantage of the sector.

By adopting an integrated food systems approach, Ireland will seek to become a global leader of innovation for sustainable food and agriculture systems, producing safe, nutritious, and high-value food that tastes great, while protecting and enhancing our natural and cultural resources and contributing to vibrant rural and coastal communities and the national economy.

The Strategy consists of 22 Goals, grouped into four high-level Missions for the sector to work toward:

1) A Climate Smart, Environmentally Sustainable Agri-Food Sector

2) Viable and Resilient Primary Producers with Enhanced Well-Being

3) Food Which 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

Read more (PDF, from page 18)

The Irish agri-food sector includes primary agriculture, food and drink processing and manufacturing, fisheries, aquaculture and fish processing, forestry and forestry processing and the equine sector. It is Ireland’s oldest and largest indigenous industry. In 2020, the sector accounted for almost 7% of GNI* and 10% of exports in value terms. At primary production level, some 137,500 farms, over 770,000 hectares of forest, over 2,000 fishing vessels and some 180 aquaculture sites produced an estimated €8.5 billion in output in 2019.

The agri-food sector grew substantially over the past decade, with Irish food and drink exports increasing from by 60% from €8.9 billion in 2010 to €14.2 billion in 2020. The sector produces food and ingredients with a global reputation for quality and safety, with a livestock sector built on an enviable grass based production system. Global demand for high quality food is increasing with population, urbanization and affluence, and the Irish agri-food sector is well placed to play a role in meeting this demand.

The broad agri-food sector also has a key role in protecting our climate and environment. Facing into the decade to 2030, the agri-food sector can make significant and urgent improvements in its environmental footprint. With leadership from stakeholders, the sector can take the steps necessary to improve its environmental performance and protect and enhance its reputation as a sustainable producer of quality food. It will also mean that Ireland can take a leading position internationally as an advocate of Sustainable Food Systems.

The Food Vision 2030 Strategy was developed with this context in mind, and aims to balance economic, social and environmental sustainability under a holistic Food Systems approach.

Read more (PDF, from page 32)

There are seven Goals in this Mission that aim to deliver a climate-neutral food system by 2050, with verifiable progress achieved by 2030, encompassing 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.

Read more (PDF, from page 54)

There are four Goals in this Mission which involve improving the competitiveness and productivity of primary producers, increasing the creation of value and distributing it fairly, introducing greater diversification in production systems and incomes, and improving the social sustainability of primary producers across areas such as generational renewal, gender balance, health and safety, mental health and wellbeing and rural development.

Read more (PDF, from page 92)

There are four Goals in this Mission that aim to prioritise coherent food and health policies for better health outcomes, enhance consumer trust in our food system, create value add through insight, innovation and product differentiation, and developing market and trade opportunities both at home and abroad.

Read more (PDF, from page 126)

There are seven Goals in this Mission which are relevant to all other Missions and will act as key enablers. They include moving to a challenge-focused innovation system, having a strategic approach to funding R&D, developing dynamic knowledge exchange practices, enhancing the use of technology and data, improving competitiveness and resilience, attracting and nurturing diverse and inclusive talent, and improving policy coherence in Sustainable Food Systems between Irelands domestic policy and its development cooperation and foreign policy.

Read more (PDF, from page 145)

The success of this Strategy will depend on effective implementation and oversight. For this reason, a Monitoring and Implementation Framework is included in the Strategy.

This highlights areas for collaboration and partnership within the sector but also with key external stakeholders. It also details oversight and monitoring mechanisms for implementation, including the establishment of a High Level Implementation Committee chaired by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and its key task will be to ensure the delivery of the four Missions. Significant detail is also given on the critically important area of environmental monitoring. A detailed implementation plan has been published and is available to download.

Read more (PDF, from page 172)

Food Vision 2030 – High Level Implementation Committee

Implementation of Food Vision 2030 is overseen by a High-Level Implementation Committee (HLIC) chaired by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Terms of Reference of Food Vision 2030 High Level Implementation Committee

Food Vision 2030 High Level Implementation Committee Reports

If you require any of the presentations mentioned in the meeting reports, you can request it by emailing EconomicsandPlanning@agriculture.gov.ie.

Food Vision 2030 Environmental Working Sub-Group (EWSG)

An Environmental Working Sub-Group (EWSG) was established as a sub-group of the High-Level Implementation Committee (HLIC) to oversee monitoring of any significant effects of implementation of Food Vision 2030. The Sub-Group will remain in place for the duration of the current Food Vision 2030 strategy and will report annually to the HLIC.

EWSG Meeting Agendas

EWSG Meeting Reports

In accordance with EU Directive 2001/42/EC and the European Communities (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programme) Regulations 2004 (SI 435 of 2004), as amended by the European Communities (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programmes) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (SI 200 of 2011), a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) was carried out on the draft Agri-Food Strategy to 2030 and its findings were presented in an Environmental Report. An Appropriate Assessment was also carried out and a Natura Impact Statement prepared pursuant to Article 6 of Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora as transposed into Irish law by S.I. the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (477/2011) as amended.

• Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Statement

• Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Non- technical summary

• Environmental Report

• Appropriate Assessment (AA) Determination

• Appropriate Assessment (AA) Conclusion Statement

• Appropriate Assessment (AA) Natura Impact Statement

Scoping and public consultation documents and associated submissions can be found at the following links:

a.Public Consultation on Scoping of Environmental Report for the Agri-Food Strategy 2030

b. Public Consultation on the Environmental Assessment of the Draft Agri-Food Strategy to 2030.

A committee of stakeholders from across the agri-food sector and beyond was established in November 2019, chaired by Tom Arnold. The Committee met throughout 2020 and into 2021. Their terms of reference were to develop the vision and key objectives, with associated actions, to ensure the economic, environmental and social sustainability of the agri-food sector in the period to 2030. The process was aided by extensive public consultation. An initial consultation took place in 2019, this was followed by an ‘Open Policy Debate’ [insert link to this], and the draft Strategy, along with the associated Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Appropriate Assessment (AA) were subject to public consultation in 2021. The final Strategy takes account of these consultations and the recommendations of the SEA and AA.

Read more (PDF, from page 8)

A Food Vision 2030 Event was held at The Printworks, Dublin Castle on 13 October 2022 to discuss Food Vision 2030, the shared strategy for the sustainable development of the Irish agri-food sector, with its stated ambition to be a ‘World Leader in Sustainable Food Systems’.

Food Vision was developed by a Committee of stakeholders, independently chaired by Tom Arnold, and will act as a framework to guide the sector to achieve its missions and goals in the decade ahead. The well-attended event in Dublin Castle heard from guest speakers who provided an international perspective, and from a number of panels exploring the development and implementation of Food Vision 2030 through its four key missions.

Food Vision 2030 Event – A World Lead in Sustainable Food Systems Programme

Opening Address by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, TD

International Perspectives on Sustainable Food Systems

View the Food Vision Event

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres will host a Food Systems Summit in New York this September. It will be a key part of the Decade of Action to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ireland has been actively engaged in the preparations for the Summit, and as part of those preparations we convened a series of four National Dialogues on Ireland’s Food System. As Food Vision 2030 is based on a food systems approach, it will have close links to this major Summit.

Read More Food Systems Summit

Open Policy Debate October 2019

The Programme for Government recognises the need to do more on gender equality. As well as being a priority for the Government, gender equality is a key objective of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and a core principle of the European Union. The new Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) Regulations place particular focus on promoting the participation of women in the socio-economic development of rural areas, with special attention to farming.

For more information in relation to Women in Agriculture please click here here

The challenge of attracting young people into a career in farming is widely recognised, both at national and EU level. In Ireland, 7% of farmers are under 35 years of age and over 30% of farmers are over 65. Demographic challenges for the agricultural sector are not unique to Ireland as these figures are similar for the EU as a whole. The family farm is at the heart of agriculture in Ireland and supporting young farmers and facilitating generational renewal is critical to ensure a bright future for the agri-food sector.

In October, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD, established a Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming. Mr. Aidan O’Driscoll chairs the Commission, comprising of a small group of people with relevant expertise and experience, which is adopting an objective, evidence-based approach to examining all the complex factors involved. The Commission will also engage closely with stakeholders before issuing a report on options as part of the Food Vision 2030 process.

Agenda

Minutes of Meetings