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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
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
Food Vision 2030 – Terms of Reference of High Level Implementation Committee
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Minutes of First Meeting of High Level Implementation Committee Meeting – 24 November 2021
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Minutes of Second Meeting of High Level Implementation Committee Meeting – 3 March 2022
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Minutes of Third Meeting of High Level Implementation Committee Meeting – 25 May 2022
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Minutes of Fourth Meeting of High Level Implementation Committee Meeting – 26 October 2022
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Minutes of Fifth Meeting of High Level Implementation Committee Meeting – 30 November 2022
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Minutes of Sixth Meeting of High Level Implementation Committee Meeting – 08 Februrary 2023
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Minutes of Seventh Meeting of High Level Implementation Committee Meeting – 10 May 2023
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Minutes of Eighth Meeting of High Level Implementation Committee Meeting – 05th of October 2023
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Minutes of Ninth Meeting of High Level Implementation Committee Meeting – 06th of December 2023
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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 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
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Opening Address by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, TD
International Perspectives on Sustainable Food Systems
Dr Lawrence Haddad, Executive Director, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
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Tassos Haniotis, Retired Director, DG AGRI Strategy and Policy Analysis
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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
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.
The CSO’s Census of Agriculture 2020 is a detailed snapshot of agricultural activity in Ireland with the specific aim of collecting detailed statistics on the structure of farming in Ireland. Census results indicated women account for only 13% of the total 130,216 farm holders in Ireland. At the same time, results showed there were 75,113 female farm workers equating to 27% of the total 278,600 in Ireland. This points to over 58,000 women in Irish farming without visibility or farm holder status.
The trend in the proportion of workers in the primary agriculture, forestry and fishing sector that are female has only increased very slightly. Women are therefore very under-represented in the sector.
This presents a structural challenge to achieving gender equality in farming where participation by women is frequently impeded by their lack of status as farm holders, either as an individual, as part of a farm partnership or as part of a commercial farm entity. This, by extension disqualifies them from registering for a Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) identifier, such as a Herd Number, that is required for entry to most schemes and interventions operated by DAFM.
In order to meet and align with the gender equality expectations and commitments of the agriculture sector in Ireland and in Europe, the visibility, equality and status of women in farming should be an integral part of the preparation, implementation and evaluation of future policy interventions and strategies. However, to underpin these interventions, more research on the topic is required to expand the evidence and knowledge base available to policymakers.
The new CAP Regulations place a new focus on promoting the role of women in rural development, with special attention to farming. Ireland’s €9.8 billion CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) identified gender inequality as a weakness, while the economic benefits of increasing female participation was identified as an opportunity. In consultation with stakeholders, several measures have been included in the CSP which will support greater gender equality. These measures include:
- An increased grant rate of 60% under the Capital Investment Scheme to fund investments by trained women farmers.
- The promotion of women-only Knowledge Transfer Groups.
- Improved recording and reporting of gender data and the leveraging of the National CAP Network to increase the involvement of all women in the implementation of CAP.
- All CAP interventions will be developed with a gender-aware perspective to ensure there are no inherent barriers to women’s participation.
- In addition, European Innovation Partnerships offer an ideal opportunity for the sector to develop initiatives that will promote women’s participation in farming.
Our shared strategy for the agri-food sector, recognises the importance of gender bal¬ance to the long-term sustainable future of the agri-food sector and includes actions to promote and improve gender balance at all levels, such as:
Promoting women’s participation in farming through CAP Knowledge Transfer Groups.
Capturing and publishing gender data on policy implementation.
Representation of the agri-food sector in the development of the next National Women and Girl’s Strategy
Promoting and improving gender balance at all levels in the agri-food sector, but particularly at senior management and board level.
Promoting and supporting women’s networks and mentoring programmes, for example the ACORNS programme for rural female entrepreneurs, which has been running successfully since 2015, funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Hosting a National Dialogue on Women in Agriculture.
A National Dialogue on Women in Agriculture with the theme of “Improving Gender Balance in the Agri-Food Sector” took place on 1 February 2023 at Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise, Co. Laois.
The event was hosted by Minister McConalogue and chaired by former Minister for Agriculture, Mary Coughlan, Ireland’s first and only female Minister for Agriculture to date. Panel discussions involving high profile female leaders from the agri-food sector contributing to the debate on the topics of “The Role of Women in the Agri-Food Sector” and “Women in Farming – Challenges and Opportunities”. Guest speakers at the event included Ministers of State Hackett and Heydon, and Ms Julia Klockner, former German Minister for food and agriculture.
The afternoon delivered several workshops exploring the experience of women in agriculture across the themes of:
• Education and Awareness
• Leadership and Visibility
• Financial and Legal matters
• Sustainability (Social, Economic and Environmental)
The dialogue provided an opportunity for stakeholders to examine gender equality through open and constructive discussion, inputting on how we can work to increase the visibility and status of women in agriculture and the agri-food sector.
For more information on the ACORNS programme visit ACORNS – Accelerating the Creation Of Rural Nascent Start-ups
The Economics and Planning division of the Department has compiled outcomes of the dialogue into a Report, including a range of recommendations arising from workshops held on the day. The report can be viewed or downloaded below.
Subsequently, a stakeholder working group consolidated these recommendations into an Action Plan.
A 12-point Action Plan has been compiled from the outcomes and recommendations arising from last year’s National Dialogue on Women in Agriculture. The actions cover a wide range of areas, all of which are important to the successful achievement of gender balance within the agriculture sector in Ireland. The was formally launched by Minister Charlie McConalogue and his colleagues Ministers of State Pippa Hackett and Martin Heydon on 31st January 2024. The action plan can be viewed or downloaded below. The press release for the formal launch of the action plan can be found here .
The newly established Women in Agriculture Working Group has been tasked with facilitating and guiding the implementation of the action plan. The group is comprised of a range of representatives from across the sector as outlined below.
| Organisation | Representative | |
| DAFM Economics & Planning Division | Elisa Goode (Chair), Ciara Murphy (Secretary), Sharon Boylan | |
| Women in Agriculture Stakeholders Group (WASG) | Mona Concannon | |
| Dairy Women Ireland | Mary Kinston | |
| Young Female Farmer Reps | Louise Crowley, Karen McCabe | |
| Teagasc | Anne-Marie Butler | |
| AgDIF | Christine Farrell | |
| Irish Forest Owners | Olive Leavy | |
| Agriculture Solicitor | Aisling Meehan | |
| Waterford Oysters (Aquaculture Sector) | Cliona Mhic Giolla Chuda | |
| Fisheries Sector | TBC |
The group held its first meeting on 31st January 2024 to coincide with the launch of the action plan. Lead responsibility for each of the actions and desired outcomes have been agreed. Initial steps have been taken on a number of the actions and the group will meet regularly to monitor progress. The group will provide updates to the Minister and to the Food Vision 2030 High Level Implementation Committee (HLIC).
Minister McConalogue has made considerable progress in achieving the government’s target of at least 40% female participation on 12 State Boards currently under the remit of the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine.
Bord Bia now has five female board members, with all three appointments in 2023 being women. Bord Iascaigh Mhara’s board is currently 60% women with the newly created agri-food regulator having 50-50 gender representation and a female CEO. Coillte has both a female CEO and a 50-50 gender balance at board level. The Veterinary Council of Ireland’s board is 47% female with Teagasc having 36% female representation on its board.
However, under representation is still an issue and leaders must do more to improve the pathways to improved gender balance at board level. The resulting visibility of female leadership will encourage more female participation at all levels in the sector.
To complement the work under the CAP Strategic Plan and Food Vision 2030, the Department has commissioned a research project under “The Policy and Strategic Studies Research Call” focussed on “Women in Farming – Examining the visibility, equality and status of women in farming in Ireland”.
The "Highlighting pathways to Empower Rural women to have Sustainable & Equitable Livelihoods in Farming", (HER-SELF) project, was selected as the successful proposal. The study will analyse existing data on farm income, payments, and capital investments to gain insights into the experience of women of all ages active in the agricultural sector. It will also endeavour to identify any barriers/enablers and geographical differences in the participation levels, incomes and experiences of women involved in agriculture. The study seeks to establish a baseline position on women in farming and the agriculture sector and provide evidence to underpin future policy interventions and strategies in this area at both a national and local level.
The 12-month study is expected to present its findings and recommendations in April 2024.
In relation to data collection, the new CAP Regulations place particular focus on promoting the participation of women in the socio-economic development of rural areas, with special attention to farming. Member States are required to strengthen their capacity in gender mainstreaming and in the collection of sex disaggregated data. The department is in the process of implementing amendments to internal systems to capture gender data for analysis.
Since 2015, the Department has provided support for rural female entrepreneurs under the ACORNS programme. The programme caters for up to 50 new female entrepreneurs in rural locations each year. Over 400 female entrepreneurs have participated in the programme since its introduction. The Programme usually runs from October to April each year.
Participants in the programme have reported increased turnover, hiring of additional employees and expansion into exports during the period. The most recent ACORNS participants were very positive regarding their experience of the initiative with 100% stating they would recommend participating in ACORNS to others and would welcome a means of staying in contact with the ACORNS network.
National Dialogue on Women in Agriculture Report January 2024
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National Dialogue on Women in Agriculture Action Plan January 2024
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For more information on this event please click here.