IFA chief stresses need to leave food remit with Department of Agriculture

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen was urged yesterday to retain food in the remit of the Department of Agriculture.

Fears have arisen in recent weeks that responsibility for food would be moved from the department to a new economic ministry focused on job creation, with tourism and food as the key elements.

But any such move is being strongly opposed by the Irish Farmers’ Association, which stressed that responsibility for the food sector must remain within the department.

Its president John Bryan said suggestions that food might be incorporated into a new department as part of the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle did not make sense and would be a retrograde step.

“It runs totally counter to all our efforts in the farming and food industry to integrate and focus our agri-food policy towards meeting the challenges and exploiting the opportunities that exist for our industry,” he said.

Mr Bryan said the existing structure has served the farming and food industry well.

The agri-food industry is uniquely different from other sectors, he said.

“That’s because of the large base of 100,000 primary producers and the total interdependence between farmers and the food sector as regards the production, processing and marketing of high quality food.

“Policy and regulation, including the key areas of food traceability and promotion, are closely integrated under the existing single department structure and it would be both very difficult and counterproductive to start dividing such important functions,” he said.

Mr Bryan said high-value markets across Europe for Irish food exports have been hard-won, and on the basis of primary producers, processors and agencies such as Bord Bia working together.

“The expertise that has underpinned the progress of our farming and food sector should be built on to maximise exports and job creation opportunities going forward,” he said.

Mr Bryan said the emphasis should be on developing Ireland’s reputation as a producer of quality, sustainable food that meets the highest standards of traceability, animal welfare and the environment.

Mr Bryan said he would be conveying his views to Mr Cowen and would impress upon him the importance of retaining a cohesive structure to maximise the agri-food sector’s potential.