Agriculture to have key economic role

IRISH agriculture will have a key role to play in increasing exports and jobs in the Irish economy, IFA president John Bryan said at the Institute of International & European Affairs Conference “A Flavour of the future” in the RDS Dublin yesterday.

Mr Bryan said: “Growth in output of €600m in 2010 clearly the sector’s potential. Agriculture is very important to the Irish economy, supporting economic activity and 300,000 jobs in every town and parish in Ireland. Growth in agriculture has a huge knock-on effect to the rest of the Irish economy.”

“We create over €8bn in exports. Agriculture and food is worth over €24bn to the Irish economy. With a world population set to grow to 9 billion by 2050, food production needs to increase by over 70% and Irish agriculture can increase output in an environmentally sustainable manner.”