Challenges We Face
Irish horticulture is under pressure from:
- Retail margins – Five major supermarket groups control 90%+ of the market, driving down grower prices
- Rising costs – Labour, energy and inputs are increasing while returns remain static
- Climate impacts – Unpredictable weather and soil health issues affect yields
- Succession – Fewer young entrants are joining the industry.
Unless addressed, these issues threaten Ireland’s ability to produce enough fresh fruit and vegetables to feed its own population — a critical national food security concern
Threat to Ireland’s National Food Security
Climate change, supply-chain shocks, and heavy import dependence make Ireland’s food system vulnerable. Export bans, transport disruption, or extreme weather can quickly drive price spikes and product shortages. As an island relying on sea and air freight, Ireland is especially exposed.
The global food system remains highly vulnerable in 2024–2025 due to a combination of geopolitical shocks, export restrictions, climate pressures, and transport disruptions, with the ongoing war in Ukraine playing a central role. Russia’s invasion has destroyed farmland, irrigation infrastructure and key export routes, slashing Ukrainian grain and oilseed output and forcing trade to shift from efficient Black Sea ports to more expensive overland routes. This supply shock has tightened global markets, contributed to food price volatility, and prompted other governments to impose their own export bans to protect domestic supply. Meanwhile, conflict-driven transport risks compound existing vulnerabilities such as Red Sea shipping disruptions, extreme weather events, and input cost inflation. For island economies like Ireland, which depend heavily on sea and air freight for food and agri-input imports, these intertwined shocks significantly increase exposure to price spikes and supply instability. To read more on this topic read the Word Bank's latest Food Security update here.
The risk picture (2024–2025)
- High import dependence: In 2024, according to CSO data, 776,000 tonnes of fruit & veg consumed in Ireland was imported, underscoring exposure to external shocks
- Production pressure at home: CSO data show volatility in key crops (e.g., potato output fell ~12% in 2023), while the number of commercial field-veg growers continues to contract
- Costs & margins: Teagasc reports persistently elevated input costs across labour, energy, and inputs, compressing grower margins
What other jurisdictions are doing
- Germany strengthened protections against unfair below-cost selling
- UK established the Groceries Code Adjudicator (2013) to curb unfair retailer practices
- EU policy increasingly recognises the need for fair returns to primary producers. (Context for Ireland’s own reforms.)
What is Ireland doing:
Ireland has taken some steps to support horticulture and improve fairness in the food chain. However, further action is required to secure the sector’s future.
- Agri-Food Regulator (An Rialálaí Agraibhia): Established to monitor unfair trading practices and improve transparency in the food chain. A positive step, but its powers need to be fully tested in practice
- Retail Charter: A voluntary agreement between retailers, and growers to encourage fair trading and collaboration
- Food Vision 2030: Ireland’s agri-food strategy highlights the importance of sustainability, climate action, and healthy diets, with scope to elevate horticulture as a strategic pillar
- National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027: Called out in FoodVision 2030, HIF is leading the implementation of this eight point stratgey which should grow a more profitable value-added sector driven by sustainability and innovation.
- Fruit and Vegetable Producer Organisation (PO) Scheme: Supports recognised grower groups to strengthen bargaining power, improve scale, and access EU funding. Still under-utilised in horticulture and needs stronger promotion
- National Food Security Strategy: Ireland does not yet have a dedicated plan for ensuring long-term domestic supply of fruit and vegetables. This must be prioritised
- Stronger supports for growers: Primary producers need clearer guidance and access to supports such as TAMS, CAP schemes, and innovation funding. Many growers are unaware of the options available or face barriers accessing them
- Investment in advisory and R&D capacity: Teagasc and other agencies require greater resources to help growers adopt technology, improve sustainability, and adapt to climate change