Food, Health & the Role of National

Reference Laboratories Conference

Backweston, February 2016

APPLYING IRISH EXPERTISE IN

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS

Agri-food is a key part of Ireland’s economy

€26 billion turnover – 26% of all manufacturing sales

12.7% of merchandise exports

Even greater impact due to local sourcing and profit

retention

Export >85% of production to 170 countries

Major producer of infant milk formula – 3 of the world’s

top 4 brand owners manufacture in Ireland

163,000 employed between food production and

farming – 8.4% of total employment

140,000 farm families

Largest northern hemisphere exporter of beef

Governed by agreed national strategies

Shared goals and metrics

Stronger emphasis on sustainability

• Primary production – significant influence on water

quality, biodiversity, air quality, soils and landscape

• Agriculture plays a crucial role in meeting international

obligations for water and air quality and in maintaining a

healthy and diverse landscape

• FW 2025 placed sustainability at the centre of

everything – Improving productivity

– Strong commitment to the sector to adapt through embracing and

applying innovations, new technologies and processes

– Recommendations on measurement, enhancement of Origin Green,

improving the environmental footprint, prioritising research funding on

sustainability etc.

Global influences

• Population growth

• Climate change

• Shared targets

• The food system is the largest employer and the

largest user of the world’s natural

resources…yet poverty and hunger still persist

Population

10.9

9.6

8.3

UN Projections-Max Roser

Population and changing diets

• Need to increase food production by 50% by

2050

• Agriculture is challenged –

• Slow-down in productivity growth

• Limited availability of new arable land

• Loss of existing arable land and reduced soil

fertility

• Price and availability of energy and water

• Impact of urbanisation on rural labour supply

• Growing demand for protein

Climate change Cocoa supply chain disappearing

SOURCE: Predicting the Impact of Climate Change on the Cocoa-Growing Regions in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire; International Center

for Tropical Agriculture, 2011

Shared targets

Areas for improvement

• More sustainable food systems

• Raise agricultural productivity, particularly of

poor farmers

• Improve nutritional outcomes

• Broadly adopt climate-smart agriculture to

withstand and mitigate climate change

For instance

Poverty reduction is closely correlated with higher yields in

Sub-Saharan Africa

Irish Agri-food is

on a journey…

Global leader in implementing a practical sustainability

programme for agriculture and food

Maintaining the highest standards of food safety and

traceability

Sustainable intensification – increasing primary output,

value-added and exports through knowledge transfer,

improved structures and industry-led growth

Applying technology and innovation to the challenges

of nutrition, productivity, emissions and safety

A new offer – derived from…

World-class regulatory

systems and institutions

Food safety relies on a QA infrastructure based on

traceability, welfare, environment and animal health

Independent, science-based approach to co-ordinating

enforcement

Market-focused growth Sectoral and company development to service global

markets with safe and sustainable food

Innovation systems Collaborative with an emphasis on quality, food safety, food

for health, value-add processing and food industry

development

Sustainability Unique focus and world-first national programme – Origin

Green

Integrated Agricultural

Knowledge Information

System

Combining extension with education and research

outcomes

Sectoral strengths Leader in grass-based production platforms, livestock and

dairy

Competent

Authority for

policy, legislation,

and enforcement;

provision of

veterinary and EU

payments agency

services.

Science-based

innovation;

provides

integrated

research,

education and

advisory services

to the sector.

Central

Competent

Authority for

enforcement of

food legislation

to protect Irish

consumers and

the consumers of

Irish food around

the world.

Invests in and

develops the

capability of

Irish food

enterprises, and

promotes Ireland

as a location for

food investment.

Promotes and

develops

markets for

Irish food and

drink;

manages

Origin Green

programme.

SFSI Practice Areas

Services:

• Strategic Planning

• Programme & project

design

• Feasibility & market studies

• Training & education

• Technical assistance for

capacity building &

institutional strengthening

• Private sector development

SFSI

Food Safety

Animal Health & Welfare

Food Enterprise

Devt

Innovation &

Research Systems

Extension &

Knowledge Transfer

Sustain-ability

Target Markets

Complementary to Irish food exports and agri-tech exports particularly

emerging markets like China, Gulf, SE Asia, Africa

Direct – government to government or through donor-funded

programmes eg

Thank you.

David Butler

Director, SFSI

david.butler@sfsi.ie