Macra urges DAFM to boost Irish horticulture as imports climb and risks rise

A Macra Ireland response to the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) report calls for urgent action by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to bolster Irish horticulture. The CCAC warned that climate-related crop failures and international supply-chain disruption could leave Ireland exposed because a large share of fruit and vegetables consumed here is imported.

Growers face a range of economic pressures that reduce the sector's capacity to expand. Input costs have increased markedly over recent years: horticultural inputs rose by 3.9% in the past year, with fruit production costs rising 7.5% and vegetable costs 4.7%. Additional volatility in energy, fertiliser, packaging and transport prices has added to the strain. Retail pricing pressure and high start-up and labour costs are cited as barriers to investment and entry, particularly for young producers.

Macra national president Josephine O'Neill says climate change increases uncertainty for international suppliers and that Ireland cannot assume secure, affordable imports will continue. Macra asks DAFM to review the potential for expanding domestic horticultural production to reduce food-security risk. The organisation frames the need around three linked policy priorities: climate resilience, food security, and generational renewal of growers. Macra argues these should be addressed together rather than separately.

Practical examples and the case for support

Macra points to a recent success story: Shane Halpin, a Dublin horticulturalist who scaled a cucumber enterprise to supply retail, wholesale and foodservice customers. His example is used to show what younger growers can achieve when they can invest. However, Macra stresses that without financial and practical supports, other young farmers will find horticulture unattractive or unviable.

Macra urges targeted policy and funding measures to:

• Review domestic production capacity and identify opportunities to scale fruit and vegetable output.
• Provide financial incentives or cost-sharing for start-up and capital investments to lower barriers for new entrants.
• Offer practical supports for climate-adaptive production methods and for managing input-cost volatility.
• Explore procurement measures or programmes that create stable demand for Irish-grown produce.

If current trends continue, Ireland's dependence on imports could make domestic food supply and prices more sensitive to weather and supply shocks overseas. Strengthening domestic horticulture is presented as a risk-reduction step that also aims to keep farming an attractive option for younger generations.

Look for DAFM responses to the CCAC recommendations and any policy announcements or scheme changes aimed at horticulture funding, start-up support for growers, or public procurement that favours domestic produce.