Macra said urgent action is needed to protect Ireland's horticulture sector as reliance on imported fruit and vegetables soars.

A report from the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) has warned that climate-related crop failures and supply-chain disruption overseas could leave Ireland increasingly exposed.

The council recommends that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) review the potential for Irish horticulture production to reduce the risk to food security.

Around 83% of fruit and vegetables consumed in Ireland are imported, while the number of commercial vegetable growers here has dropped to fewer than 70, compared with more than 600 in the 1990s.

Irish growers are faced with lower prices, retail pressures, high start-up costs, labour shortages and competition from other countries.

Input costs have increased by over 70% over the last six years, and recent volatility in energy, packaging, fertiliser and transport costs has further negatively impacted the sector.

Growers

Macra national president, Josephine O'Neill said the CCAC report highlights the risks Ireland faces from our heavy reliance on imported fruit and vegetables.

"Climate change is creating greater uncertainty for farmers internationally, and we cannot take secure and affordable access to imported food for granted.

"However, if we are serious about strengthening Ireland’s food security, we must also be serious about maintaining the capacity to produce food here at home," she said.

The latest figures show horticultural input costs increased by 3.9% in the past year, with fruit production costs increasing by 7.5% and vegetable production costs by 4.7%.

"These are not abstract figures - they directly affect the viability of businesses and the ability of young growers to see a future in the sector," O'Neill said.

The Macra president said horticulture farmers "cannot be expected to invest and adapt to changing climate conditions without adequate financial and practical support".

"For young farmers in particular, we need to make domestic food production, particularly fruit and vegetable production, a viable and attractive career.

"Climate resilience, food security and generational renewal should be addressed together, rather than as separate policy issues,” O’Neill said.

Horticulture

The Macra president said the recent success of Dublin horticulturalist Shane Halpin "demonstrates the potential for young farmers to build successful businesses in the sector".

Shane was named the 2026 FBD Young Farmer of the Year after growing his cucumber enterprise Welgro Produce into a business supplying Irish-grown cucumbers to retail, wholesale, and food service customers.

“Shane’s story shows what can be achieved when a young farmer has the ambition and opportunity to invest in horticulture, and he is exactly the type of young farmer we need to see more of in Irish horticulture.

"However, we cannot allow the continuing economic pressures facing horticultural producers to undermine the next generation of Irish growers," O'Neill said.