Agri Food 2010 Committee

Main Recommendations

20. Support Services

The support services operated by four of the main State agencies involved in the agri-food sector are changing to adapt to the new challenges facing the sector.

20.1: Support Schemes and Services of DAFRD

• Every effort should be made to ensure that the very large number of schemes and services operated by the Department are undertaken with the minimum possible bureaucracy, consistent with the need to apply scrupulously the provisions of EU and national law and the requirements for proper financial and technical controls.
• New information technologies offer significant opportunities in this regard.
• Further gains are possible from the consolidation of scheme procedures.
• Adequate staff numbers, IT resources and office and other facilities are essential if DAFRD is to play a full role in supporting the development of the sector. The Committee therefore welcomes the commitment in the PPF on this issue.

20.2: Research, Advisory and Training Services of Teagasc

• The Committee supports the new direction set for the research, advisory and education services in Teagasc 2000 and urges the speedy implementation of the programme, and the provision of regular progress reports.
• The re-orientation of the advisory and training services around the separate needs of full and part-time farmers is particularly welcome. This perspective should inform all the agricultural support services.
• New skills are urgently required in a number of research areas, in particular biotechnology, environmental science and animal health/welfare. These skills must be complemented by investment in upgrading production centres and providing proper food training facilities.
• Teagasc might also consider the possibility of concentrating production research at fewer locations in order to achieve critical mass in these activities.

20.3: Marketing and Promotion Services of An Bord Bia

• Bord Bia has a lead role to play in providing the marketing perspective to support new industry initiatives and to ensure implementation of the recommendations for a more proactive approach to marketing outlined in this report.
• A strong well resourced marketing effort is now needed to re-establish Irish beef on EU markets, and Bord Bia’s role will be of central importance.
• The Committee welcomes and supports Bord Bia’s intention to further develop its information services. A comprehensive market research and intelligence service could be a key catalyst for consumer focused development in the sector.

20.4: Food Industry Development Services of Enterprise Ireland

• This report contains a clear set of priorities for the development of the food industry over the coming years. Enterprise Ireland will play an important role in many of them. In particular, EI should focus on the need to:
• radically increase the level of R&D effort in the sector,
• develop strategic partnerships along the value chain,
• rationalise primary processing ,
• further develop the rapidly growing value added sectors,
• develop a new approach to human resource management in the food industry.

A strong co-ordinated focus on these strategic issues will be needed from all State bodies and industry participants if we are to make the necessary headway, but EI’s role will be pivotal. The Committee therefore looks to EI to provide leadership in implementation of many of the recommendations in this report.

Home