Publication
Food Vision 2030 – A World Leader in Sustainable Food Systems
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
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- 1. Food Vision 2030
- 2. Executive Summary
- 3. The Policy Context
- 4. Mission 1 – A Climate Smart, Environmentally Sustainable Agri-Food Sector
- 5. Mission 2 – Viable and Resilient Primary Producers, with Enhanced Wellbeing
- 6. Mission 3 – Food that is Safe, Nutritious and Appealing, Trusted and Valued at Home and Abroad
- 7. Mission 4 – An Innovative, Competitive and Resilient Agri-Food Sector, Driven by Technology and Talent
- 8. Monitoring and Implementation
- 9. Food Vision 2030 – Annual Reports
- 10. Strategy Stakeholder Committee and Process for Getting Here
- 11. Food Vision Event – 13 October 2022
- 12. UN Food Systems Summit 2021
- 13. Open Policy Debate - October 2019
- 14. National Dialogue on Women in Agriculture - 01 February 2023
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Food Vision 2030 – High Level Implementation Committee
Minutes of First Meeting of High Level Implementation Committee Meeting – 24 November 2021
Minutes of Second Meeting of High Level Implementation Committee Meeting – 3 March 2022
Minutes of Fourth Meeting of High Level Implementation Committee Meeting – 26 October 2022
Minutes of Fifth Meeting of High Level Implementation Committee Meeting – 30 November 2022
Minutes of Sixth Meeting of High Level Implementation Committee Meeting – 08 Februrary 2023
Minutes of Seventh Meeting of High Level Implementation Committee Meeting – 10 May 2023
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 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.
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
The programme for the Food Vision 2030 – World Leader in Sustainable Food Systems Event
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
A National Dialogue on Women in Agriculture is taking place on 1 February 2023 at Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise, Co. Laois.
The event will be chaired by former Minister for Agriculture, Mary Coughlan and will feature panel discussions and workshops. The dialogue provides an opportunity for stakeholders to provide input on how to increase the visibility and status of women in agriculture.
As well as the panel discussions and workshops there will be a number of speakers on the day including the former German Minister for Agriculture, Julia Klöckner.
For more information and to register for this event please click here.