Teagasc has published a new series of 'Enterprise Roadmaps' looking forward to 2030 across seven agricultural enterprise areas.

These are: dairy; beef; sheep; pigs; tillage; horticulture; and forestry.

These documents provide an update to the previous version (published in 2020) and are a “best estimate projection” of where each sector is headed.

Projections are based on the current known mix of economic, social and policy drivers, according to Paul Maher, head of international relations and corporate strategy in Teagasc who co-ordinated the roadmaps update.

Each document sets out some key sectoral statistics, trends and key performance indicators.

The main social, economic, and environmental challenges ahead are outlined along with the key actions required to support each sector through these challenges.

Difficult year

John Spink, head of the Teagasc programme with responsibility for environment, forestry, horticulture and tillage, said: "While 2025 has been a difficult year for the crops sector, the recent increase in forestry plantings is welcome.

"We also look forward to new opportunities in plant breeding following the recent EU agreement on new genomic techniques."

Laurence Shalloo, head of the Teagasc programme with responsibility for dairy, beef, sheep and pigs, set out “how the animal production system has consolidated and evolved over recent years".

He said it will "continue to engage in new technologies such as sexed semen, precision breeding and grassland management, improved fertiliser efficiency and use of protected urea as well as low emissions slurry spreading".

These will "grow value as well as reduce the overall impact of the systems on the environment".

Food industry

Teagasc has also published a 'Food industry Roadmap' from which Mark Fenelon, head of the Teagasc food programme highlighted:

“The constant need to ensure food safety and traceability is of the highest standards to support the consistent growth in value and exports," he said.

He also noted the “steady improvement in sustainability metrics due to the continued investment in people as well as digitalisation, valorisation of waste streams and the support for the emerging bio-economy”. 

In a supporting overview document, Kevin Hanrahan, head of the Teagasc rural economy and development programme commented:

“The agri-food sector continues to be well positioned to supply high quality food to adjacent and global markets from a strong environmental platform.

"While price and income volatility as well as an ageing workforce are significant concerns, producers have shown that they are resilient and can be responsive to market and policy signals where they are timely and consistent."

Teagasc director, Professor Frank O'Mara, has acknowledged the challenge in developing roadmaps during a "time of uncertainty, volatility, and rapid policy change".