Food Vision 2030: A World Leader In Sustainable Food Systems

Generated Summary

The document is a policy document outlining the “Food Vision 2030,” a strategy for the Irish agri-food sector to become a world leader in sustainable food systems (SFS). The strategy, developed by the 2030 Agri-Food Strategy Committee, aims to balance economic, environmental, and social sustainability within the sector. It adopts a food systems approach, recognizing the interconnectedness of various policies. The strategy sets four high-level Missions, with key goals and actions to achieve sustainability. The document outlines the context, challenges, and opportunities, including market and policy environments, environmental concerns, and the need for innovation and competitiveness. The implementation of the strategy involves a monitoring and implementation framework, with the establishment of a High-Level Implementation Committee (HLIC) to ensure the delivery of the four Missions. The approach encompasses the primary sector (farmers, fishers, and forest owners), the food and drink sector, retailers, food services, and consumers, as well as drawing on and contributing to research and innovation in the sector.

Key Findings & Statistics

• In 2020, the agri-food sector accounted for almost 7% of modified Gross National Income (GNI*) and 10% of exports in value terms.
• It employs approximately 163,600 people, representing 7.1% of total employment.
• The agri-food sector grew substantially over the past decade, with Irish food and drink exports increasing from by 60% from €8.9 billion in 2010 to €14.2 billion in 2020.
• At primary production level, some 137,500 farms, over 770,000 hectares of forest, over 2,000 fishing vessels and some 180 aquaculture sites produced an estimated €8.5 billion in output in 2019.
• The new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will provide in excess of €10.6 billion in EU funding to farmers and rural communities in the period from 2023 to 2027.
• In 2019 CAP supports accounted for 78% of Family Farm Income in Ireland with an average total direct payment of €18,325 per farm.
• In 2020, two of the five most valuable destination markets for Irish food – the USA and China – were non-Europe markets. Likewise, nine out of the top twenty markets for Irish agri-exports were non-Europe markets.
• Global population is projected to grow from 7.8 billion in 2020 to 8.5 billion in 2030 and to 10 billion in 2050.
• Ireland’s agri-food exports to the UK increased by 38% while the exports to EU-26 increased by 59% between 2010 and 2020.
• After the Climate action, The Ag Climatise’ roadmap includes 29 actions.
• The Strategy commits to a reduction of at least 10% in biogenic methane emissions by 2030 (on 2018 level).
• The Strategy commits to reduce nutrient losses from agriculture to water by 50% by 2030
• The strategy envisages that by 2030, 10% of farmed area will be prioritised for biodiversity, spread across all farms throughout the country.
• Ammonia emissions to reduce to 5% below 2005 levels by 2030.
• The Strategy aims to increase value-added of agri-food exports to €21 billion by 2030.

Other Important Findings

• The strategy takes a systematic approach to ensuring that Ireland can continue to produce high quality food in a manner that protects the environment.
• An urgent action in the Strategy is to produce detailed plans by Q2 2022 to manage the sustainable environmental footprint of the dairy and the beef sectors.
• The European Green Deal, Circular Economy and Biodiversity Strategies, as well as higher health and environmental ambition in the Farm to Fork Strategy will have consequences for primary producers.
• The 2030 Strategy represents a continuation of the journey of transition the sector has experienced over the past seventy years.
• The commitment in this Strategy that Ireland should become an international leader in sustainable food systems represents a particularly important transition.
• The key to leadership in Sustainable Food Systems is to achieve a genuine balance between the three dimensions of sustainability.
• The strategy puts more emphasis than its predecessors on the critically important role of the primary producer.
• The strategy signals actions aimed at making the sector more diversified, resilient and based on circular economy principles.
• Consumers expect that the food and drink they purchase is safe, traceable and authentic, produced, processed and sold in a transparent, ethical manner.
• Innovation is fundamental to achieving sustainability in all its forms.
• The sector should aim to become climate-neutral by 2050, with verifiable progress by 2030, encompassing emissions, biodiversity and water quality.
• Given that 80-90% of output is exported, the long-standing policy of supplying an increasingly diversified range of export markets and developing new high-value markets will continue.
• The sector produces food and ingredients with a global reputation for quality and safety, with a livestock sector built on an enviable grass-based production system.
• The European Green Deal, Circular Economy and Biodiversity Strategies, as well as higher health and environmental ambition in the Farm to Fork Strategy, will have consequences for primary producers.
• As the predominant land use in Ireland, agriculture and forestry exerts the most pressure on water quality.
• The social sustainability of primary producers is all too often an over-looked dimension.
• The strategy signals actions aimed at making the sector more diversified, resilient and based on circular economy principles.
• The key enablers for the implementation and realisation of the other three Missions in this Strategy are.
• In the longer-term, the extent to which the market provides a return for the primary producer, especially for high-standard, high quality produce, is a fundamental question for the food system and agri-food policy.
• BIM demonstrated a 65% Nephrops survival rate in a trawl using a 300 mm escape panel and the EU granted an exemption to all vessels using such environmentally friendly gears in Irish waters.

Limitations Noted in the Document

• The document itself does not explicitly mention any limitations, but some caveats may be inferred from the discussion of challenges and the need for ongoing efforts.
• The strategy acknowledges that future environmental targets are likely to be set by legislation, indicating that specific targets are subject to change based on policy developments.
• The emphasis on general principles and broad goals, rather than specific operational details, could lead to a lack of precision in implementation.
• The focus on achieving a balance between economic, environmental, and social sustainability may create trade-offs that are not explicitly addressed.
• Reliance on existing data and indicators may not fully capture all aspects of sustainability.
• The success of the strategy depends on the cooperation of all stakeholders, and there is no guarantee that all parties will fulfill their roles effectively.
• The strategy highlights that the primary producers’ income can be volatile from year to year, making it difficult to provide long term goals.
• The strategies are a framework within which more detailed plans and processes will need to be developed.
• The success of the strategy will depend on effective implementation and oversight.

Conclusion

The “Food Vision 2030” strategy represents a comprehensive plan for the Irish agri-food sector to achieve a sustainable future, encompassing a wide range of stakeholders, goals, and actions. The strategy is based on four high-level Missions, each with associated goals and actions that span environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Key priorities include becoming climate-neutral by 2050, enhancing the well-being of primary producers, ensuring food safety and value, and fostering innovation and competitiveness. To achieve these goals, the strategy promotes collaborative action, improved market access, and technological advancement. A significant shift is needed to align the sector with the new EU policies. The successful implementation of the strategy depends on the participation of the stakeholders, with a particular emphasis on enhancing the social sustainability of the primary producers. The strategy sets out actions to achieve these goals and to contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. By implementing the strategy, the Irish agri-food sector aims to become a global leader in sustainable food systems. Ongoing monitoring, review, and stakeholder engagement are crucial to ensure that the strategy remains relevant and effective in achieving its ambitious goals. The strategy also focuses on innovation, research, and digital transformation. By addressing the key challenges in the sector, the strategy aims to create a resilient and competitive agri-food industry that delivers benefits for Ireland’s society and environment. The long-term success relies on the capacity for Ireland to showcase that it meets the highest standards of sustainability, enabling it to secure its market share and increase its impact. The vision for 2030 includes a sector that produces safe, nutritious, and high-value food while enhancing natural resources and contributing to vibrant rural and coastal communities. To accomplish this, Ireland needs to build on its green reputation and become a leader in sustainability, benefiting not only the sector but also the environment and society. The emphasis on sustainability should meet the needs of the society and position Ireland internationally in its trade and relationships. The strategy signals actions aimed at making the sector more diversified, resilient, and based on circular economy principles. In this context, it is important to consider ‘Just Transition’ principles and the actions contained in the Strategy are crucial. Furthermore, a coordinated set of actions focusing on aiding an environment and climate-led transition to a climate neutral agri-food sector is also important for all stakeholders to achieve a common goal.