merrion street

Tom Hayes, T.D., Minister for State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine gave the opening address at the Green Foundation Ireland Seminar in European Parliament Offices, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2, today. Green Foundation Ireland is an independent organisation orientated towards an ecological and sustainable vision of society. The theme of the seminar was “Food: Good to Eat and Good for Ireland?”.

Minister Hayes commented that “the Agri-Food sector has been a national leader in growing exports. After reaching new record highs last year I’m confident that more jobs and investment can be made in the sector as Ireland recovers.”

The Minister went on to say “Smart, green, growth is the basis for progressive sustainable expansion in the agri-food sector out to and beyond 2020. This will be achieved through increased efficiency, higher productivity and competiveness in our primary sectors (agriculture, fisheries and forestry) and also on the processing side in the case of food and drink production.”

The Minister added that “background conditions for food production are constantly changing. Growers and food producers have to react proactively to meet these changes by constantly aiming to meet public policies and consumer’s evolving expectations. Change is the only constant”.

Concluding, Minister Hayes acknowledged that there are many challenges that lie ahead that must be faced with consumers increasingly focused on health, well-being and sustainable food production.