On Monday 4^th December the Food Wise Conference 2017 took place in The Croke Park Conference Centre.

Food Wise 2025 sets out a ten-year plan for the agri-food sector. It underlines the sector’s unique and special position within the Irish economy, and it illustrates the potential which exists for this sector to grow even further.

The Food Wise 2025 strategy was agreed by a committee of 35 stakeholders from the agri-food sector in 2015. It foresees a sector that acts more strategically and achieves a competitive critical mass in the international marketplace while targeting more quality conscious consumers who will recognise and reward Ireland’s food producers for their sustainable production and high-quality produce.

Food Wise 2025 identifies ambitious and challenging growth projections for the industry over the next ten years including:

• 85% increase in exports to €19 billion;
• 70% increase in value added to €13 billion
• 60% increase in primary production to €10 billion and
• The creation of 23,000 additional jobs all along the supply chain from producer level to high end value added product development.

The Food Wise conference was an opportunity to see how the strategy was working out and discuss the impacts it has had and the actions that need to be amended/added.

An extremely informative and interesting day was had by all who attended with the general consensus being that the Food Wise Strategy was working however there is plenty to be done if we are to keep on track with our sustainability commitments. Aine Lawlor acted as a fantastic moderator for the day.

The opening panel featuring Tara McCarthy CEO of Bord Bia, Jow Glauber Senior Research Fellow IFPRI, Edmund Scanlon CEO Kerry Group and John Horgan MD Kepak Group discussed Global Markets and gave their very informed opinions on the topic. Ireland currently exports to 180 markets globally and currently Bord Bia are focusing on 15 priority markets after completing extensive research during 2016-17 including China, Japan, Indonesia & South Korea to name a few that allow the best potential for growth over a medium term.

The second Panel of the day included Phil Hogan European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Carmel Cahill Deputy Director Trade and Agriculture OECD, Brendan Gleeson, Assistant Secretary General DAFM Joe Healy President Irish Farmers Association. Phil Hogan had a very strong message to deliver on the need for more to be done to achieve sustainability targets.

Following the discussion on policy we moved on to Environmental Sustainability and Agri-Food with – Pierre Bascou Director DG AGRI, Bill Callanan Chief Inspector DAFM, Laura Burke Director General Environmental Protection Agency, Gerry Boyle Director Teagasc, Kevin Lane CEO Ornua, Aoibheann O’Brien CEO Food Cloud. During a poll of the audience it was acknowledged by 71% that there has been a lot done in this area with a lot more to do. Laura Burke shared that we need to address environmental challenges on emissions and water quality and Gerry Boyle informed us that technologies delivered on the ground to farmers will significantly reduce agricultural emissions. Aoibheann O’Brien talked about how food waste accounts for 8% of global GHG emissions and that they are working with the food industry to reduce food waste and getting good take up of their services. Overall the issue of sustainability is one of the big challenges of our time and one of the main focuses of the Food Wise 2025 strategy and while we are working towards improving sustainability there is a huge amount more to be done.

The final panel of the day to discuss Food Wise: Impact in a new era was made up of –  John Moloney Chair of the Food Wise committee, Caroline Keeling Group Managing Director Keelings Ltd, Alan Jagoe former President Macra and CEJA, Aidan O’Driscoll Secretary General DAFM. John Moloney told us that consumers are increasingly looking at providence, authenticity and sustainability and the importance of Food Wise in delivering these and also how increasing productivity by equipping people with the correct skills across the supply chain will improve sustainability. Caroline Keeling shared her satisfaction with the Food Wise Strategy and how it was a great process getting all the stakeholders together to create the strategy. She also shared with us her concerns and issues in finding labour for her business. Alan Jagoe shared his views on how farmers are already practising sustainability and are willing to do what they can to improve on sustainability, he also pointed out that in order to achieve some of the goals set out for them they need to have access to low cost finance. Aidan O’Driscoll stated that growth and sustainability are on equal footing in Food Wise and that it is not a document but a process. To recap the feeling was one of positivity, that Food Wise is the right strategy, agile as it is to cope with changes, and that with continued commitment from all the stakeholders the actions set out are on target.

The conference closed with a speech from Minister Michael Creed TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.  The Minister stated that we need to have a coherent, shared vision for the sector and we need to continue to sharpen our focus on market access matters. He announced that he will lead 4 trade missions in 2018 one to the US and Canada early in 2018. He announced a public consultation in Ireland on the future of CAP. He closed with stating he wanted to strongly restate our collective determination to achieve the growth and sustainability ambitions set out in Food Wise 2025, to deliver jobs, maximise income for farmers, protect the environment and enhance our rural environments.

Thank you to the Department of Agriculture for hosting such an informative conference.