Press release
Minister McConalogue hosts first meeting of Food Vision 2030 Tillage Group
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, today hosted the inaugural meeting of the Food Vision 2030 Tillage Group.
Minister McConalogue highlighted the significant role the tillage sector plays in Ireland’s food and feed security by providing high quality produce to the animal feed industry and to the food and drinks industry.
The Minister outlined his support for and ambition to grow the tillage area, which has been recognised as one of the most carbon efficient sectors in Irish Agriculture, as set out in Food Vision 2030 and in the Climate Action Plan 2023 with a target tillage area of 400,000 hectares by 2030.
Addressing the Group, the Minister said:
“The tillage sector plays a very important role in contributing to our food and feed security. It is a major contributor of high-quality grain to the animal feed industry and straw for feeding and bedding. It also makes a significant contribution to the food and drinks sector, a sector that is going from strength to strength.”
Addressing the Group, whose participants are drawn from farming organisations, industry and State Bodies, Minister McConalogue recognised the current difficulties being experienced by tillage growers, said:
"I am acutely aware of the current concerns among tillage growers with lower grain prices and high input costs combined with difficult weather conditions that impacted on autumn and spring sowing."
The Minister added:
“We must focus on developing the many opportunities that are within our control and I believe that working together we can grow this important sector in the years ahead while further enhancing its competitiveness and environmental credentials.
“I believe that working together we can grow this important sector in the years ahead. The tillage sector is of immense and critical importance to the overall ecosystem of our agri-food sector. From food to feed to the drinks sector, the tillage sector is the backbone of so many elements of our sector.”
The Chairman of the Food Vision 2030 Tillage Group, Matt Dempsey said:
"Ireland has the capacity to produce high yields of high-quality tillage crops for a wide variety of uses. Setting clear targets and recommending policies to increase output given the high level of imports in the sector is the primary objective of this Food Vision Tillage Group.
“I am honoured to have been asked by Minister McConalogue to chair such an informed and representative grouping and look forward to working with the members to develop a blueprint that will stimulate the Irish Tillage Sector in its drive for greater output, efficiency and profitability."
The Minister has tasked the group with providing a detailed plan and recommendations by the end of July with a final plan to be submitted during the final quarter of 2023.