Creed announces Stakeholder Committee to develop Ireland’s Agri-Food Strategy to 2030 and opens first meeting

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD today opened the first meeting of the Stakeholder Committee that will develop the Agri-Food strategy to 2030, and announced the composition of the Committee.

Minister Creed commented: “Since their inception 20 years ago, up to the current Food Wise 2025 plan, a rolling series of ten year strategies have ensured that we have a coherent, stakeholder-led vision to underpin the development of the sector. The success of these strategies is evidenced by a 73% growth in agri-food exports since 2009. While the sector faces challenges, great opportunities exist. I am sure that environmental sustainability, including climate, biodiversity and water, will be a key issue to be considered by the Committee. Equally, expanding our footprint globally; innovation; and competitiveness will be priorities for the industry. Primary producers are an essential part of the economic and social fabric of Ireland; it remains a priority for us all to enable them to produce food in an environmentally sustainable and economically viable way.”

In relation to the composition of the Committee, Minister Creed said, “The agri-food sector encompasses many different elements and in appointing members, I was cognisant of the need to ensure a good representation of these various parts of the sector and I am delighted that so many distinguished individuals accepted my invitation to participate in this committee.”

For his part, the Chair of the Committee, Mr Tom Arnold, said, “Given the critically important role that the agri-food sector plays in the Irish economy, Irish society and perhaps most importantly of all, in a supply of safe, nutritious and sustainable food, I am honoured to accept the invitation of Minister Creed to Chair the Committee charged with preparing its strategic direction into the next decade. The development of the Agri-Food Strategy to 2030 will provide the opportunity to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the sector, the threats and opportunities facing it, and to specify appropriate development pathways. I look forward to working with the Committee in a spirit of constructive collaboration.”

Note to Editors

The composition of the Stakeholder Committee is as follows:

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
Frank Convery	Senior Partner, EnvEcon
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
Joe Healy	President, IFA
Thia Hennessy	Dean & Chair Agri-Economics, UCC
Liam Herlihy	Chair, Teagasc
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 Dairy industry Ireland and CEO, Kerry Ireland
Larry Murrin	IBEC Prepared Consumer Foods Council and CEO, Dawn Farm Foods
Colm O'Donnell	President, INHFA
Sean O'Donoghue	CEO, Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation
Dolores O'Riordan	Director, UCD Institute for Food and Health
Terence O'Rourke	Chair, Enterprise Ireland
Edmond Phelan	President, ICSA
Alice Stanton	Professor, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Director for Human Health, Devenish
Siobhán Talbot	CEO, Glanbia

The names of two further members representing environmental and food safety perspectives will be confirmed as soon as possible.

Missing from today’s photography are the following members;

Joe Healy

Liam Herlihy

Oliver Loomes

Dan McSweeney

Pat Murphy

Brian Murphy

Sean O’Donoghue

Terence O’Rourke

ENDS