A new report for Bord Bia says that Ireland should try to develop a world class farm industry by 2016 and also seek to become the most efficient and innovative food country in the world.
The report says that Ireland is at an enviable starting point to produce exactly the type of food consumers are demanding.
The report was prepared by Professor David Bell and Mary Shelman of the Harvard Business School and presented at a summit of Ireland's top food and drink manufacturers at Farmleigh House in Dublin.
In compiling their report, the authors interviewed leading figures in the Irish food sector and also assessed information from questionnaires.
The report calls for the creation of what it describes as an umbrella brand for Irish food and drink, and the fostering of a climate of entrepreneurship. It suggests that Irish exporters should collaborate rather than compete.
It also identifies three issues that need to be addressed - lack of scale, limited consumer orientation in export markets and low investment in the future of the sector.
The proposals presented at Farmleigh will be considered for a strategy plan being prepared for the industry by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
