The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will today (04 December) host a major Food Wise conference in Croke Park. 

Speaking in advance of the conference, Minister Michael Creed said: “The theme of our conference is ‘Food Wise – Challenge, Ambition, Opportunity’ – and the conference will hear from a range of speakers on these themes, including the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD; EU Commissioner Phil Hogan; Laura Burke, Director of the EPA; and John Moloney, who led the Food Wise 2025 committee in 2015.

“There have been some calls for a moderation of the Food Wise ambition in the light of Brexit” Minister Creed commented.   “However, I believe this is no time to step back. The targets set for 2020 in the previous iteration of our current agri-food strategy, are on course to be achieved well ahead of schedule, and they too appeared optimistic at the time.”

“Of course, while pursuing growth opportunities, we must recognise the challenges, including the very real environmental challenges, facing the sector and take positive steps to deal with them.

I hope that today will inspire all involved in the sector – farmers, processors and Government - to re-double our shared commitment to achieving the Food Wise 2025 vision for the sustainable growth of the sector.”

ENDS

Date Released: 03 December 2017