The document discusses the challenges facing Irish agriculture over the next decade according to Erin O'Rourke, including increasing demand for food, constraints on natural resources, climate change, Brexit, and meeting the goals of Food Wise 2025. Specific challenges mentioned are attracting talent, improving competitiveness and profitability, developing markets, driving innovation, and addressing regional issues like land mobility and crop challenges in the South East. Sustainability is also a major theme, balancing increased production with environmental protection.

1. 19th July, 2016
Erin O’Rourke
B.AgrSci., Ph.D
Challenges
facing
Irish
agriculture

2. Demand for food Constraints on natural resources Climate change
Erin O’Rourke
B.AgrSci., Ph.D
Challenges facing agriculture

3. Meeting the aspirations
of Food Wise 2025
Regional & sectoral challenges
South East
Brexit
Erin O’Rourke
B.AgrSci., Ph.D
Challenges facing Irish agriculture over the next decade

4. Erin O’Rourke
B.AgrSci., Ph.D
Meeting the aspirations of Food Wise 2025
Human capital
Sustainability
CompetitivenessMarket development
Innovation

5. Erin O’Rourke
B.AgrSci., Ph.D
SustainabilityEconomic competitiveness
Increased production
Environmental protection
Environmental efficiency
Sustainable intensification
Include measurement of sustainability credentials to support ‘Origin Green’
• CAP towards 2020 – greening in Pillar I & II
• RDP
• United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change – Paris agreement
• EU Climate and Energy Framework 2030
• Climate Action and Low Carbon
Development Act 2015
• Nitrates, Water Framework and Habitats
Directives
Because of our temperate climate and
grass-fee beef and dairy sectors we are
already considered more sustainable
compared to many other countries

6. Erin O’Rourke
B.AgrSci., Ph.D
Human capital
• Attract, retain and develop talent
• Invest in education, knowledge transfer and life-long
learning
• Skill set
• CAP – Young Farmers Scheme
Competitiveness
• Margin maximising
Improving profitability by managing input
costs and maximising price received at market
• Adopting the latest technologies & processes to
increase sustainable productivity
• Increase pressure on the CAP budget

7. Erin O’Rourke
B.AgrSci., Ph.D
Market development
• Promoting Ireland in new markets
• Building the ‘Origin green’ brand and reputation
• Market development driven by consumer insights
Innovation
• Research that translates in to commercial
products/services
• Capacity to absorb new research & innovation
• RDI driven by consumer demand and insights

8. Erin O’Rourke
B.AgrSci., Ph.D
Opportunities from Food Wise 2025
• Increasing the value of agri-food by 85% to €19 billion
• Increasing the value added in agri-food products by 70% to in excess of €13 billion
• Increasing the value of primary production by 65% to almost €10 billion
• Creation of 23,000 more jobs across the agri-food chain

9. Erin O’Rourke
B.AgrSci., Ph.D
Brexit
50% of beef
and
30% of dairy
exported to
the UK market

10. Erin O’Rourke
B.AgrSci., Ph.D
Brexit
Immediate challenge – drop in value of sterling
Expected status quo of our relationship with the UK and
NI for two years
Trade, regulations and grants after two years:
TRADE
No special trade deals between Ireland and the UK & NI – Europe versus a non-European country.
Ext. 21% of Irish food to be displaced in the UK market - UK to take food from where it is cheapest*
• Over time UK relaxing tariffs on import from non-EU countries
• Put Irish exports under severe competitive strain
• Ireland to seek new markets and take lower prices - losing in the process an est. 1 billion per annual

11. Erin O’Rourke
B.AgrSci., Ph.D
BrexitTrade, regulations and grants after two
years:
REGULATIONS
Checking origins of product
Import licenses
Different regulations and compliance
Food labelling and marketing standards
Veterinary practices
Certification of meat factories by UK
and UN
Animal welfare and safety
Pesticides, ingredients, plant passports
GRANTS
UK 2nd largest contributor to EU
budget – 17 to 18 billion of a
~150 billion total
Ireland serious net receiver of EU
money
Cut in budget = repetitive impact
to rural villages and town across
Ireland
Without EU payments vast
majority of Irish farmers would
be in losses

12. Erin O’Rourke
B.AgrSci., Ph.D
Regional & sectoral challenges - South East
Land mobility and long-term investment in land in the South East
16,660 farms – 5th highest compared to other regions
37% (6117) of farms have rented land – largest percentage of this is in Wexford
10%
Highest average farm size 42.4ha in South East - ~10ha more than State average.
Age profile of farmers in the South East
Only 7% of farmers in the South East are aged <35 – low farm incomes and
attraction to other areas of employment

13. Erin O’Rourke
B.AgrSci., Ph.D
Regional & sectoral challenges - South East
Tillage sector in the South East
Largest percentage of cereal production takes place in the South East
 33% South East
 27% Mid-east and Dublin
Challenges:
Increasing input costs and lack on efficiency on farms
Land availability
Crop protection and the ever limiting suite of chemicals available
Protection of natural resources – soil health
Climate change
Opportunities:
Feed demand post milk quota
Demand for malting barley and wheat by drinks industry
Greening under CAP will promote more crop rotation

14. Demand for food Constraints on natural resources Climate change
Erin O’Rourke
B.AgrSci., Ph.D
Challenges facing agriculture

15. Meeting the aspirations
of Food Wise 2025
Sectoral challenges
South East
Brexit
Erin O’Rourke
B.AgrSci., Ph.D
Challenges facing Irish agriculture over the next decade

16. 19th July, 2016
Erin O’Rourke
B.AgrSci., Ph.D
Challenges
facing
Irish
agriculture