Michael Cuddy's presentation onAgriculture, Food and Rural Development at the Galway 2040 Symposium - http://www.galway2040.ie (Disclaimer presentation is the view of the individual and does not necessarily represent their respective organisation.)
Galway 2040 Symposium - Agriculture, Food and Rural Development
1.
2. Agriculture, Food and Rural
Development
Galway, November 5, 2010
Contact details: michael.cuddy@nuigalway.ie
3. Outline
• Current situation
– Agriculture
– Food
– Rural Development
• Drivers of change
– Agriculture
– Food
– Rural Development
• Vision
– Agriculture/Food
– Rural Development
4. Current Situation
• Agriculture
– Dominated by CAP
– Specialisation in a narrow range of commodities
– Small margins
• Food
– Minimal processing
– Mainly for the export market, undifferentiated
– 80% of food consumed locally is imported
• Rural Development
– 35% of rural residents dependent on agriculture
– 75% of family farms are part-time with over 50% income from off-farm
– Rural communities generally weak despite LEADER
– Low level of participation in community development
5. Drivers of Change
• Agriculture
– Continuing decline in EU subvention and direct payments
– WTO agreements price reduction
– Large corporate retailers reduced price
– Alternative farm output opportunities
• Food
– Choice between quality/domestic and price/imports
– Oil prices and environment concerns will dampen imports
– Corporate retailers will drive the large scale production model
– Search for food quality will drive a consumer led food cluster
• Rural Development
– Limited public funds
– Rural development driven by community led initiatives
6. 2040 Vision
• Agriculture/Food
– Large scale farms producing efficiently and environmentally friendly
– Greater control of the processing and direct selling to supermarkets
– International niche market for an All-Ireland Irish Food Brand
– Small-scale producers with primary and processed foods under Galway Food Brand
– Selling directly to the consumers through “farmers’ markets’
– Food cluster with Galway Food Brand
– Cultural image of Galway extended to Galway food
• Rural Development
– Exploiting the rural resources for multiproduct output - food, tourism and energy
– Local self help based on individual commitment to the community will be driving force
in developing local identity and quality of life
– Local value added derived from farm, processing, industry and services (including
internationally traded)
7. 2040 Vision
• Agriculture/Food
– Large scale farms producing efficiently and environmentally friendly
– Greater control of the processing and direct selling to supermarkets
– International niche market for an All-Ireland Irish Food Brand
– Small-scale producers with primary and processed foods under Galway Food Brand
– Selling directly to the consumers through “farmers’ markets’
– Food cluster with Galway Food Brand
– Cultural image of Galway extended to Galway food
• Rural Development
– Exploiting the rural resources for multiproduct output - food, tourism and energy
– Local self help based on individual commitment to the community will be driving force
in developing local identity and quality of life
– Local value added derived from farm, processing, industry and services (including
internationally traded)