Complete Re-think Needed on Objectives of Food Vision Dairy Group 

Ahead of the third meeting of the Food Vision Group on dairy this morning, IFA Dairy Chairman Stephen Arthur said that there must be a complete re-think as regards the objectives of the group. 

“Food security must now be top of the agenda,” he said.

“IFA has been clear from the start that we would not accept the imposition of any blunt instrument to curtail production. However, the whole landscape has now changed with the war in Ukraine and the risks this poses to food security,” he said.

“While IFA is committed to the adoption of technologies to reduce emissions per unit of output, we must be mindful of any impacts these measures may have on food production,” he said. 

The EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski outlined the possible need to reassess the objectives of the Farm to Fork Strategy in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.  

Some recent media reports about the group having discussed a limit on cow numbers is not accurate.

“No such discussion has taken place. The Minister may very well have this in mind, but it has not been presented to the group, or discussed at all,” he said.

“It’s clear that there is an attempt being made to condition farmers through strategic leaking,” he said. “Instead of inhibiting dairy and livestock production in Ireland, we should be taking advantage of our superior climate efficiency credentials and excellent climate for growing grass,” he said