Teagasc Publishes Statement of Strategy

17 December, 2003

The need for increased competitiveness and innovation across all sectors of the agriculture and food industry is highlighted in the up-dated Teagasc Statement of Strategy for the period 2003 – 2005.

The Strategy, which was launched by the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Joe Walsh, details the main research, advisory and training services which will be provided by Teagasc over the coming years.

The Director of Teagasc, Jim Flanagan, said the strategy has been prepared against the background of the mid-term review of the CAP, combined with further liberalisation of world trade, EU enlargement and continuing change in consumer demand.

“As the key provider of research, advisory and training services, Teagasc has a central role in helping the industry to successfully meet these challenges and opportunities,” he said.

In addition to under-pinning competitiveness and innovation in farm and food production, Teagasc services are also strongly focused on environmental sustainability, animal welfare and farm and food safety.

The strategy highlights the need for the commercial farming sector to benefit from increased scale while also adopting the latest cost-reduction technologies and most efficient production systems. New production blueprints developed by Teagasc research centres combined with intensive technical and financial advice and life-long learning will be essential in supporting this transformation.

The growing number of part-time farmers, who account for a significant proportion of agricultural output, are also a key target of Teagasc services. Flexible and innovative advisory and training services are being put in place in order to meet the particular needs of this group.

Special services will also be provided to farm families who are under viability pressure. These families will be given expert advice and training on on-farm and off-farm opportunities to boost household income and improve quality of life.

The impact of technological development in food processing on the future success of the industry is also highlighted in the strategy. The acknowledged expertise of Teagasc in food research will be used to assist the industry in developing new products and technologies which will be vital in building an internationally competitive food industry.

Click here to download the Teagasc Statement of Strategy 2003-2005.