Homegrown talent the jewel in Emerald Inc

Data showing drink and food exports rose 9% in the first six months of 2013 should be carefully analysed.

This set of figures illustrates how the Republic is performing as a food and beverage production base, and should not be confused with the stellar performance of food and beverage companies based in Ireland. Understanding how both constituents of our food and drink miracle work is key to policymaking for the future.

Let’s assume that the figures produced by Bord Bia for the Jan-June period were those of a giant food business (Emerald Foods) whose production facility is the Republic. In the six months to June it produced €1.7bn of meat and live animals, €1.4bn in dairy and ingredients, €730m in prepared foods, €555m in beverages, €275m in seafood, and €108m in horticulture and cereals.