Speaking at the Bord Bia “Pathways for Growth” summit this morning, Taoiseach Enda Kenny stressed the importance of the agri-food industry, an industry which has which has “real and tangible advantages”.

Noting the “enormous challenge” of the visions set out in the Food Harvest 2020, the Taoiseach emphasised the need to form partnerships and continue to work together. Inititiatives such as the Bord Bia Marketing Fellowship in the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School can serve to contribute to “strong levels of export led growth” he said.

He urged attendees to do what you can“to build partnerships and introduce efficiencies that will capitalise on Ireland’s potential as a food Island”.

Future concerns such as the sustainability of food production and climate change must remain at the core of the agri-food industry’s objectives. The carbon intensity of food production must be improved through research and collaboration “to take advantage of the projected demand for sustainable food production. ”

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