Killeen Calls For Improvement In Functioning Of Food Chain

The Clare Deputy said the demands of consumers and the marketplace generally were impacting on the investment decisions of producers in the context of environmental and welfare considerations.

"In regard to market transparency, the main concern is the need to achieve a greater balance along the chain between producers, processors and retailers. The need to involve all the stakeholders reflected the integrated nature of the food supply chain and what might be appropriately called the ‘fork-to-farm’ approach, given the increasing influence that the more discerning and demanding consumers are placing on producers and the manner in which producers are responding to the demands of the marketplace", he added.

Minister of State Killeen continued: "Over recent years, the Department of Agriculture’s policies have driven a change of focus within the agri-food industry from being producer-focused to being consumer-focused. This was a key element of the AgriVision 2015 Strategy and I have no doubt it will feature prominently in the forthcoming 2020 Strategy".

-ENDS-

Notes to Editor:
- High-resolution images of Tony Killeen, Fianna Fail TD for Clare, and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, with special responsibility for Forestry, Fisheries and the Marine, may be downloaded from www.dunphyprimages.com
- For further information please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy PR at media@dunphypr.com or 086-8534900