No one expected the development of a new strategy for Irish agriculture to be easy.
The sector faces many challenges. These range from stagnant farm incomes and worrying generational renewal trends, to biodiversity loss and the demands of climate action measures.
With the Green Party in Government, it was obvious that, unlike strategy documents of the past, stakeholders outside the agri sector would have a stronger voice in the discussions over the Agri-Food 2030 Strategy.
It was clear these voices would challenge the very foundations of our current export and expansion-driven agri-food industry.
That is why these strategy documents appear to have taken on more significance.
Offaly based super junior Minister reflects on challenging six months in Government
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Minister Pippa Hackett has described her first six months in Government as challenging but very productive.
“The Green Party entered Government at a very difficult time, facing the crises of Covid and Brexit, as well as the climate and biodiversity emergency,” she says. “However, there is an acute awareness that we need to make changes – something the Greens have been saying for years. We want to create an economy that is green, sustainable and circular.”
The Green Party has seven ministers across a number of departments.