Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon has welcomed the publication of the European Commission’s ‘Vision for Agriculture and Food’.

The document, launched yesterday (Wednesday, February 19), sets out a roadmap for Europe’s agri-food system up to 2040 to ensure that all associated policies are in line with this vision.

Minister Heydon said that the commission's high-level communication underlines the strategic importance of the agri-food sector for the future of the European Union as a whole.

“The agri-food sector makes an important contribution to the EU priorities of competitiveness, innovation, and rural development; as well as being essential to the EU’s climate action and environmental protection objectives.

"Food security is fundamental to the EU’s economic security and should not be taken for granted.

"While we cannot pre-empt the outcome of the EU budget negotiations, I believe the Vision provides the basis of a strong argument for a robust and fully funded Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the next EU budget," he said.

Minister Heydon said that he will discuss the document with Commissioner Hansen, and his fellow ministers at Agri-Fish Council in Brussels next Monday (February 24).

"In Ireland, our Food Vision 2030 strategy is built on a collaborative approach involving stakeholders from across the sector.

"It aims for Ireland to become a world leader in sustainable food systems - in terms of economic, social and environmental sustainability.

"I welcome that the commission is taking a similar approach, recognising the importance of stakeholder involvement in policy formation; and the importance of all aspects of sustainability," he added.

European Commissioner for Agriculture Christophe Hansen told a press conference yesterday that the future funding under the CAP should be directed more towards young farmers, as well as smaller farms and family farms.

The new document forms part of the EU Commission’s response to farmer protests across Europe on a range of issues, including prices and the levels of bureaucracy they face.

It follows the final report of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture, published in September, which assessed the challenges and opportunities in the sector and presented a set of recommendations.