The new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2020 proposals can provide a “solid foundation” for the Food Wise 2025 agenda to succeed, according to the EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Phil Hogan.

Commissioner Hogan was addressing a full house at the Food Wise Conference 2017 in Croke Park this morning, which got underway at 8:30am.

The new proposals for CAP 2020 were outlined by Commissioner Hogan in a communication published last Wednesday, November 29, in Brussels.

A significant emphasis was placed on the plans to simplify and modernise the CAP going forward by the commissioner; he also underlined the plans to place greater responsibility on member states to create tailored strategic plans to meet the goals set out by the European Union.

In his address, the commissioner added that the CAP has served Ireland well since joining the European Union almost 45 years ago.

Meanwhile, on the many trade missions which he has been a part of, the commissioner explained that he has been on the “diplomatic offensive to ensure that the door is open for you to business”.

But Commissioner Hogan did air some degree of caution in relation to the “very impressive and challenging targets” set out in the Food Wise 2025 agenda.

He said: “We must ensure that supply and demand is balanced”.

The commissioner went on to outline how the new CAP 2020 proposals will move away from a one-size-fits-all approach to a more tailored plan for each member state.

We’re giving more responsibility to the member states; we are shifting from a compliance-based approach to a performance and results-based approach

“Nothing concentrates the mind more than the threat of holding back payment,” he said.

The ‘Food Wise Conference 2017: Challenge, Ambition, Opportunity’ is being hosted by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and it will run until later this afternoon.

The conference consists of four sessions. These are entitled: ‘Global Market Insights’; ‘Policy Drivers’; ‘Environmental Sustainability and Agri-Food’; and ‘Food Wise: Impact in a New Era’.

Stay tuned to AgriLand for further updates throughout the day.