How reliable is Ireland's fruit and vegetable supply?

Analysis: current fruit and vegetable supply in Ireland is below what is needed to meet healthy eating goals

By Isobel Stanley, UCD

Fruit and vegetables are an essential part of a healthy diet. An important source of vitamins, minerals and fibre, they provide multiple benefits and protect against non-communicable diseases including cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. In 2017, 3.9 million deaths globally were attributable to insufficient fruit and vegetable intake.

Fruit and vegetable consumption also plays an important role in environmental health, as diets that are higher in fruit and vegetables are widely associated with increased sustainability. Furthermore, the production of fruit and vegetables plays a role in land use, water pollution and biodiversity.

But Ireland is falling behind on all of these environmental progress indicators, according to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 2020 report. Fruit and vegetable consumption in the Irish population is far below the WHO's recommended intake of 400g per day. According to datae from the Irish University Nutrition Alliance National Nutrition Survey, average intake is estimated to be 285g per day in adults, 213g in adolescents and 222g in children.

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From RTÉ Archives, Mairead McGuinness reports for Ireland's Eye in 1982 on how the supply of vegetables to the Irish market is exceeding demand

Where do we get our fruit and vegetables from?

Ireland is a small, open economy with a mild climate and is heavily reliant on imports for fruit and vegetable supply. Imports for fruit and vegetable supply have steadily increased over the last 60 years as domestic production has decreased (see Figure 1).

In 2020, 890,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables were imported. This represented a 42% increase in total fruit and vegetable imports compared to 1992. The largest proportion of imports comes from European countries, including Spain (an average of 10% of total imports, 2017-2021), the Netherlands (13%, 2017- 2021) and Great Britain (24%, 2017-2021).

Though Great Britain was previously the primary trade partner, imports of fruit and vegetables have reduced post-Brexit and Great Britain accounted for 14% of total fruit and vegetable imports in 2021. There has been little change in imports from Northern Ireland in the last 5 years (an average of 5% of total imports, 2017-2021). Fruit and vegetables are also imported from outside Europe, from a total of 205 territories across the world.

Domestic fruit and vegetables are produced largely for consumption in Ireland. In 2020, domestic production amounted to 61,800 tonnes, a 73% reduction since 1961 and a 14% reduction since 2010. Field vegetables, mushrooms and apples are the predominant fruit and vegetables produced in Ireland, including spuds (58% of total fruit and vegetable production 2020), mushrooms (13%), carrots and turnips (10%), cabbages and brassicas (5%) and apples (3%). Soft fruits, primarily strawberries, represented 1% of total fruit and vegetable production in 2020.

What are the theats to fruit and vegetable supply chains?

Imports from climate-vulnerable countries are the main threat. As climate changes and shocks become more extreme, fruit and vegetable yields will be impacted by higher temperatures, drought, extended rainy seasons and increased crop losses.

While the climate crisis is a threat to human and environmental health across the globe, some countries are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change than others. To assess how future-proof the Irish fruit and vegetable supply is, it's important to understand how vulnerable import countries are to climate disruptions.

There has been a 73% reduction in domestic fruit and vegetable production since 1961 and a 14% reduction since 2010

The Notre Dame Global Adaption Initiative uses vulnerability indicators to assign scores estimating a country’s climate vulnerability. Ireland is classified as having ‘low vulnerability’ to climate change and ‘a high level of readiness and well positioned to adapt’.

Irish imports come from countries and territories with different levels of vulnerability (see graph below). Seven of the 20 countries providing more than one percent of Irish fruit and vegetable imports are classified as vulnerable. In 2021, 22% of total fruit and vegetable imports came from countries classified as climate-vulnerable.

Countries with moderate/ high levels of vulnerability supply a large proportion of popularly consumed fruit and vegetables in Ireland, including bananas (98%), pineapples (95%), onions (83%), oranges (57%), garlic and leeks (44%) and apples (16%).

What are the challenges for domestic producers?

The cost of horticulture production inputs for fruit and vegetables in Ireland increased by an average of 13% in 2021. This sharp rise in costs of inputs has put severe pressure on growers' viability as it is difficult for them to pass on the increased costs through price increases.

The pandemic highlighted the need for a more resilient system with measures in place to ensure food and nutrition security and safety. Restrictions put in place to reduce the spread of Covid-19 impacted the provision of fruit and vegetables by causing disruptions throughout the supply chain. Reduced availability and delays in the delivery of agricultural inputs, seasonal labour shortages, non-harvesting of crops and restricted transport for distribution led to retail shortages and consumer price increases.

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From RTÉ Radio 1's Countrywide, Suzanne Campbell reports on the crisis facing Irish vegetable producers

Current fruit and vegetable supply in Ireland is below what is needed to meet healthy eating goals. When considering the future of fruit and vegetable supply, policies should consider and address the vulnerability of countries supporting the supply chain and the sustainability of increasing domestic production.

Strategies to address the vulnerability of Irish fruit and vegetable supply could include investment and research into horticultural expansion in Ireland. It could also take in collaboration and investment into the mitigation of climate change in agriculture in climate-vulnerable countries.

Isobel Stanley is a PhD candidate in food systems policy at the School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science at UCD

The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ