Minister McConalogue addresses Oxford farming conference
- Published on: 5 January 2022
- Last updated on: 12 April 2025
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue, T.D., will provide the keynote address at the 2022 Oxford Farming Conference.
The Minister will address the conference’s ‘Trade and Global’ session on Thursday 6th January. Minister McConalogue will link reflections on Ireland’s approach to agri-food trade to the wider conference theme of ‘routes to resilience’, and where the family farm fits in the context of increased globalisation.
Minister McConalogue will speak on how the Irish family farm model has lasted the test of time; the benefits which EU membership has brought Irish farming in terms of supports and access to the European Single Market; and how the Food Vision 2030 strategy aims to grow food exports to €21 billion in value by the end of the decade.
Other speakers include Britain’s agriculture secretary George Eustice and world record breaking yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur.
On family farming in a globalised food supply chain:
“The Irish farming model is still almost exclusively based on the family farm. That structure undoubtedly has its challenges, both for farmers themselves and for the global food chain they supply. But my own view is that the nature of family farming in Ireland is unambiguously positive, both for farmers and for consumers. The family story behind Irish food and drink is part of what makes it uniquely appealing for consumers all over the world.“
On the benefits of EU membership:
“For Ireland, EU membership and the opening up of trade opportunities which followed, particularly with the establishment of the European Single Market, have enabled farming and the food industry to develop in a sustainable manner, building on our natural advantages, particularly in grass-fed livestock production.”
On trade priorities and Brexit
“Diversifying and developing markets will continue to be a priority for me and my Department as well as Bord Bia. We will do this to ensure we offer a strong and positive future for everyone in the sector, particularly our farmers and their families."
"With regard to the UK market, this includes defending and building our market share in the UK, building on British trade customer and consumer confidence in Irish food and drink as quality, trusted, sustainably produced and ‘close to home’. There is no doubt that Brexit has made, and will continue to make, trade with our nearest and most important market more challenging and complex. But bear in in mind, we have a agricultural trading relationship with Britain since the 1600s when thousands of cattle moved from west to east and crops moved from east to west. I cannot see why this strong and trusted relationship will not continue into the future.”
On the Food Vision 2030 strategy
“I believe Food Vision is a landmark for the Irish agri-food sector with the potential to transform our agriculture, food, forestry and marine sectors in the period to 2030, with sustainability at its core. This strategy is honest and upfront about the challenges ahead. But crucially, it proposes solutions and charts a pathway to sustainability in all its dimensions – environmental, economic and social – taking a food systems approach."
"The stakeholder-led committee which devised Food Vision believes that the sector can reach €21 billion in exports by 2030, an increase of almost 50% on current export value, with this growth driven by a steady growth in export value rather than volume."
"I am confident that, with Food Vision as a strategic framework, Ireland’s agri-food sector will achieve its ambition to become a world leader in sustainable food systems. Our farming and fishing families, which are at the heart of our rural and coastal economies and communities, are fundamental to that ambition.”