Agri-food sector would benefit from strong national food brand: Coveney

IRELAND’s agri-food sector would benefit from a strong national food brand, Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said at the inaugural National Food and Agribusiness Summit at Croke Park yesterday.

The minister said the three key themes of the Food Harvest 2020 strategy — Smart, Green, Growth — were critical to the development of the Irish agriculture and agri-food sectors over the next decade.

“Ireland needs to develop a strong, recognisable, national brand for Irish food and food products,” said Mr Coveney. “Ireland’s competitive advantage is based on its pre-existing global image of a ‘green’ island, as well as a sustainable, grass-based, year-round production system with its associated low-carbon footprint.