23,000 jobs promised for agri-food sector

23,000 jobs are being promised as part of the Government’s ten year Agri-food strategy.

Targets for farmers and the broader sector are to grow exports by 95% to €19bn over the next decade.

Food Wise 2025 outlines a ten year strategy for the sector, with a focus on sustainable growth.

Growth will be driven chiefly by expansion in dairy, beef and seafood.

The strategy warns that profitability and viability of farm enterprises will remain a concern. Both will be driven by productivity improvements through cutting-edge sustainable technologies.

On dairy, the strategy wants more focus on added-value products. It calls for more collaboration in market research, product development and marketing.

On beef, it warns that it is important to try to at least maintain suckler cow numbers. This requires improved profitability at farm level through maximising returns from penetration of premium markets. On tillage, there will be growth opportunities in barley and malt for distilling and for oats.