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In a letter to European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has called on the Commission to be ready to deploy the full range of market supports available to the agri-food sector.
European agriculture ministers will meet by video link on Wednesday 25 March to discuss the current situation regarding COVID-19 and its potential impacts on food security and the agricultural sector.
At the meeting, ministers will have the opportunity to highlight issues on the ground and consider whether any specific or targeted measures may be needed.
As food service outlets close, farm organisations in Ireland have called on the Commission to introduce market supports for the beef sector such as aid to private storage.
Supply chains
To date, issues identified include a shift in consumption patterns and the movement of goods and labour.
Ireland’s position is that there is no immediate concern about the continuity of supply of Irish food to domestic, UK and EU markets. However, Minister Creed will emphasise the need to support the agri-food sector.
His priority will be to ensure farmers and processors can continue to operate effectively and that supply lines can be kept open.
To do this, processing facilities will have to be kept operational and payments and commercial activities necessary to protect farm incomes must continue.
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