Published on 

Progress Report on the Food Vision Beef and Sheep Group published

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, today received a Progress Report from the Chair of the Food Vision Beef and Sheep Group, Professor Thia Hennessy. The Minister thanked the Chair and the group for their work thus far.

In establishing the Group in June, Minister McConalogue said he wanted the Group to plot a future for the sector over the next decade. Central to this will be assessing how we can meet all elements of sustainability – environmental, societal and economic. He said an important first step for the Group was to develop a plan to help reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the beef sector.

Minister McConalogue commented:

“I appreciate that the measures set out at this interim stage are not agreed by the Group, but will be considered for further detailed analysis as part of the Group's ongoing work.  It is important to recognise that all parts of the sector are working together to find the best sustainable pathway forward for the sector.

“Ireland is a world leader in the production of safe, sustainable and tradeable beef. We want to build on these foundations to become even more sustainable over the coming years. We need to act with a sense of urgency both to meet our legal commitments, and to safeguard Ireland’s well-deserved reputation as a sustainable producer of quality beef. 

"I thank the Chair and all the members of the Group for the intensive work programme undertaken so far, and I urge all stakeholders to continue to work together constructively towards a final report. I look forward to receiving the final report before the end of November.”

The Progress Report is available here.

 

END