Tuesday, 8th February 2011 (Source: The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Press Office)

55 Actions to Achieve 50% Increase in Milk Production

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith, today announced the establishment of an action focussed group to implement the recommendations of the Food Harvest 2020 Report in relation to beef. This report targets an increase of 20% in the value of beef output by 2020.

The Road Map has been prepared by the Dairy Expansion Activation Group under the Chairmanship of Dr. Sean Brady. The Group’s remit was to address the specific actions needed to implement the recommendations of Food Harvest 2020 in relation to the dairy sector.

Commenting today, the Minister thanked the Group for delivering this important document within a very short timeframe. He said that its publication laid the foundation for the work to be undertaken by all stakeholders in delivering on the enormous potential of the Irish dairy industry.

“The Road Map sets out the critical steps required to ensure the ambitious objectives for the dairy sector set out in Food Harvest 2020 are realised. It is now essential that all stakeholders take up the challenge of implementing the actions needed to capitalise on the tremendous potential of the vitally important industry”, said the Minister.

The Road Map contains a total of 55 specific actions, relating to on farm production, efficiency in the milk processing sector, the development of market opportunities and general agriculture policy. Dr. Sean Brady, who chaired the Food Harvest 2020 Committee and the Dairy Expansion Activation Group, has accepted an invitation from the High Level Implementation Committee to continue to facilitate the process of implementation and to monitor progress.

Concluding, the Minister said “I am delighted to see the practical implementation of Food Harvest 2020 getting under way in the dairy sector, and I am grateful to Dr. Brady for his continuing contribution to this process.

The prize is export led growth in the dairy sector worth an additional €1 billion per annum to the national economy, and I urge all of those involved in the dairy sector to act in a collaborative and dynamic way to ensure that this potential is delivered”.