Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine Simon Coveney has said in China that Irish farmers have one of the best sustainability stories in Europe and the wider world.
Mr Coveney was speaking at a forum on building a ''Safe and Sustainable Future for Food'' in the Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences (CAAS), as part of the week-long trade mission to China which he is leading.
The minister said this forum served to highlight and build awareness in China, among key officials and policy makers, of the high level of official control measures in the production of Irish food products and the science underpinning the efficiency and sustainability of Irish food production.
The forum brought together distinguished Chinese scientists on food production and climate change.
Keynote addresses were delivered by Dr Lin Erda, the Director of Research on Agriculture and Climate Change from CASS, and Professor Ye Zhihua, Director General of the Institute of Quality Standards and Testing technology for Argo products CASS.
Along with Minister Coveney, speakers from the Irish side included Martin Blake, Chief Veterinary Officer at the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine, Dr Frank O'Mara, Director of Research at Teagasc and Aidan Cotter, Chief Executive Officer of Bord Bia.
Minister Coveney said the forum represented a clear manifestation of the deepening of co-operation between Ireland and China in the agriculture sector and is a practical expression of Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping stated desire when he visited Ireland for increased levels of co-operation between both countries in agriculture.
The Chinese side particularly identified a number of potential collaborative research areas, such as animal genetics, residue monitoring and the broader issue of sustainable production methods.
In conclusion, Minister Coveney stated: "We are perceived to be 'green' and when measured scientifically we are found to be 'green'. Research published by the EU Commission last year corroborates national research showing that Ireland has the lowest carbon footprint of meat and dairy production in Europe. Our mild climate produces grass growth for most of the year. It is perhaps our 'green jade'."
He continued: "Ireland has invested over many decades in the development of its economically important agri-food and fisheries sectors.
"We now have a sector, grounded on a safe, efficient, and sustainable production of quality foodstuffs and beverages, gearing up for a major growth phase.
"The sector is supported in a strategic way by Government through my department and State agencies to facilitate its continued development.
"Not alone are we in a position to sustainably grow but equally important we are open to share the experiences we gained in developing the agri-food sector."
Minister Coveney and the delegation then travelled to Quingdao where the focus will shift to fisheries and seafood, with a meeting with the Chinese Academy for Fisheries Science.
