Specific Details
Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan 2023 - 2027
Intended results
To emphasise that, within the Green Public Procurement Strategy(GPPS), the procurement of freshly locally produced food is paramount in order to foster a resilient, sustainable and inclusive agricultural sector.
To point out that that the Green Public Procurement Strategy (GPPS) recognises the role of government procurement in driving sustainable trends. The Green Public Procurement Policy must prioritise the economic sustainability of Irish farmers by ensuring a fair and sustainable price is paid for their produce.
To highlight that food that is produced locally and sustainably must have its positive contribution towards our climate ambitions recognised in the new Green Public Procurement Strategy (GPP). To emphasise the importance of supporting sustainable agriculture for a resilient and circular economy.
Public procurement policy for agriculture must encompass a commitment to fostering a resilient, sustainable, and inclusive agricultural sector. Recognising the pivotal role that agriculture plays in both our economy, food security, and rural development, our procurement policies must aim to support local farmers, promote environmental sustainability, and contribute to the overall well-being of suppliers and consumers alike.
To highlight that, from an agricultural perspective, the Green Public Procurement Strategy aims to make agriculture more sustainable by, for example, purchasing organically produced food. While in essence the above statement is fundamentally correct, there are a number of challenges in the horticulture sector around purchasing strategy that may create barriers for increased purchasing of Irish produce.
1. Consolidation of Growers - The consolidation of growers is hugely concerning which has extended consequences for the whole agricultural sector. IFA estimate that there are currently less than 100 commercial field vegetable producers left in Ireland.
2. Sustainable Price - The policy must underpin the economic sustainability of Irish horticultural growers when considering the procurement of Irish fresh produce. The economic stability of Irish horticultural growers has been eroded significantly over the past decade primarily due to actions of the retailers.
Growers have been priced out of the market by cheaper imports from abroad. The green public procurement policy must ensure that a sustainable price is achieved for growers providing fresh produce.
3. Tendering and Contracts -Tendering processes and the length of contracts are hugely problematic for the horticultural sector. Annual tendering and short-term contracts make it impossible for growers to plan long-term and to invest in their businesses.
The National Horticulture Strategy 2023 -20277 outlines that a charter for the Food Services sector should be considered, especially around State funded institutions' procurement requirements. Such a charter would ensure that the economic sustainability of growers is protected.
4. Food Waste - According to the EPA, food waste in Ireland is the 5th highest in Europe and about 15% ahead of the EU average.8 It is estimated that food waste accounts for approximately 8-10% of greenhouse gas emissions; therefore, reducing food waste is a hugely effective climate action.EPA statistics estimate that 29% of food waste is generated at household level. Manufacturing and processing accounts for 28%, restaurants and food service account for 25% while only 7% occurs at producer lev
Manufacturing and processing accounts for 28%, restaurants and food service account for 25% while only 7% occurs at producer level. The specification that is required for fresh produce has an effect on food waste levels at farm gate level. On the retail front, over the past decades the specs of all fresh produce have increased dramatically. This leads to perfectly useable and saleable produce being rejected because of minor blemishes.
The new procurement policy must consider that the spec of fresh produce must be adjusted based on growing conditions in a given year. From a climate and economic perspective, the most carbon efficient use of produce is to be consumed unprocessed by the consumer. Due diligence must be exercised in this area in any future policy.
5. Knowledge of Produce Seasonality - The seasonality of fruits and vegetables in Ireland, as in many temperate climates, is influenced by the country's climate and weather patterns. It is important to note that the specific timing of when fruits and vegetables are in season can vary depending on weather conditions, local growing practices, and the specific variety of the produce.
Consideration must be given to the availability and seasonality of produce in tender than contracts issued for fresh produce.
6. Availability of Produce - The target of 10% of produce to be organic in all public procurement is welcome. However, the availability of this produce should also be considered. Although organic production has increased in Ireland in the past two years, many of these farmers are still in conversion and, as a result, their produce cannot be sold as organic.
Fulfilling this target maybe overly ambitious and we do not want to see a situation where produce is substituted with imported lines which contradicts the nature of green public procurement. If shortages do exist, produce should be replaced with certified Irish produced produce.
7. Pig & Poultry Sector - The pig industry contributes €1.491 billion to the Irish Economy annually, supporting over 8,000 jobs. With pig industry activity concentrated away from Ireland's large urban centers, the pig industry also plays an important role in supporting economic activity within Ireland's more regional, local and rural economies according to a report carried out by PwC on the Irish Pig Sector in 2022; ‘The Pig Industry & Ireland's Economy'.
The Irish poultry sector, including meat and eggs, produces an annual output of approximately €611 million at wholesale prices. The sector supports just over 5,000 jobs - 70 percent of which are based in the border region. As an input intensive industry, €250 million is spent on farm inputs (including animal feed), while the processing sector spend in the order of €140 million on wages, salaries, and other inputs. This expenditure provides a welcome boost to rural economies across the country.
8.Quality and Certification - Irish farmers are proud to highlight that Irish pig and poultry products are produced to the highest quality standards. Certified by Bord Bia under the Sustainable Quality Assurance Scheme, our farmers ensuring that the food produced is not only of the highest quality but also meets stringent environmental criteria.
9. Economic Benefits - Supporting local pig and poultry farmers through government procurement provides a significant boost to the Irish economy. By prioritising local produce, the government contributes to the creation and sustenance of jobs within our communities. This not only strengthens the agricultural sector but also has positive ripple effects across related industries, fostering a more robust and resilient local economy.
10. Reduction of Food Miles - Procuring locally sourced pig and poultry products aligns with the goal of reducing food miles. By minimising the distance that food travels from farm to fork, we not only decrease the carbon footprint associated with transportation but also ensure fresher, more nutritious products for consumers. This reduction in food miles is a tangible step toward achieving the environmental objectives outlined in the draft GPP Strategy.
11. Liquid Milk - Ireland's 18,000 dairy farmers produce eight billion litres of milk per year, and the majority of this is processed into dairy products for export by the milk co-ops. We consume c.540 million litres of fresh milk annually. The year-round supply of this fresh milk is governed by the National Milk Agency (NMA) which issues annual contracts to Ireland's 1,300 liquid milk farmers. Typically, a dairy cow has a nine-month lactation and the most economical time for this to be produced
Typically, a dairy cow has a nine-month lactation and the most economical time for this to be produced is from early spring until late autumn to coincide with our grass growth. In order to have fresh milk in the winter months, specialised liquid milk farmers have a more expensive system of calving cows in the autumn, in order to have high quality fresh milk for the consumer.
Locally produced liquid milk is certified as produced and processed locally by the National Dairy Council (https //ndc.ie/). IFA strongly supports the inclusion of National Dairy Council certified liquid milk as a criteria in the GPP.
12. Circular Economies - Encouraging the procurement of local Irish food produce supports the principles of a circular economy. By creating a closed-loop system within our local communities, we promote sustainability, reduce waste, and enhance resource efficiency. This approach aligns with the broader goals of the circular economy model and contributes to a more sustainable and resilient food system.
To urge the government to include in the Green Procurement Plan that the procurement of locally produced Irish food products would be prioritised in the finalisation of the strategy. By doing so, we can collectively contribute to a sustainable, circular economy while supporting our local farmers and communities.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Niamh Brennan IFA Policy Executive, Sarah Hanley IFA Policy Executive
Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?)
No
Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign?
No
Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client?
No
Lobbying activity
The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.
Designated public officials lobbied
The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them.
As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.
Charlie McConalogue
Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Jackie Cahill
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Michael Collins
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Michael Fitzmaurice
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Michael Ring
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Joe Flaherty
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Paul Kehoe
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Claire Kerrane
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Brian Leddin
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Johnny Mythen
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Tim Lombard
Senator (Seanad)
Victor Boyhan
Senator (Seanad)
Lynn Boylan
Senator (Seanad)
Paul Daly
Senator (Seanad)
Denis O'Donovan
Senator (Seanad)
Amii McKeever
Adviser to Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)