Minister fetes Irish food

THE food industry was described yesterday as an important pillar of the Irish economy in terms of exports, employment, output and contribution to spatial strategy.

Agriculture and Food Minister Joe Walsh said it drives exports valued at €7 billion or over 55% of indigenous exports and is responsible for the direct employment of 50,000 people.

The food and agri-food sector supports upwards of 200,000 people countrywide and is well-placed to meet future challenges, he said, in a response to the recent Enterprise Strategy Group report.

Minister Walsh said the clear message for Ireland's food and agri-industry is that it must identify and optimise all areas of advantage and market opportunity.

Prepared consumer foods, for instance, have grown from a very small base in the past 15 years to a point where they now account for 25% of food exports.

He said Ireland is one of the top three pizza manufacturers in the EU and the industry has continually re-invented the basic product to anticipate consumers' desire for new and diverse food experiences.

Recognising the success to date, he said there are also opportunities for developing more functional foods. Although company marketing and processing capability has developed hugely, further development is required at production and research level.

The food industry can draw on high quality food science research graduates and is seeing the importance of developing research capability at company level geared to moving up the value chain and exploiting areas of opportunity, he said.