What role do you see the Irish agrifood sector playing in global food systems over the next decade? Are we well positioned and where should we double down?

Ireland is internationally recognised for high-quality food production, with a reputation for delivering premium products and innovative agrifood solutions. The agrifood sector is Ireland’s oldest and largest indigenous exporting industry, reaching customers in more than 180 countries. It is a major employer in towns and communities around the country, supporting more than 60,000 high-quality jobs and accounting for 26% of all employment in Enterprise Ireland supported companies.

Irish exporters are agile and resilient. Last year exports from Irish owned companies supported by Enterprise Ireland reached a record €36.75bn, up 7% on the year prior. All sectors showed strong growth, with exports from food and sustainability companies increasing by 5% to reach a total of €16.25bn. Despite global volatility, the sector has demonstrated remarkable adaptability and resilience.

The Irish food and drink sector is undergoing a transformative shift, driven by innovation and a strong commitment to sustainability from pioneering enterprises. The industry benefits from a unique combination of strengths; access to high-quality raw materials, a highly skilled workforce, world-class research infrastructure, and robust government support for innovation-led growth. Looking ahead, a renewed focus on impactful, commercially driven innovation will be key to maintaining our global competitiveness and improving profitability across the sector.

Many innovative food and agribusiness businesses are SMEs. What is your advice for those without a large export team but with a strong product?

Enterprise Ireland supports export-focused Irish companies at all stages of their journey from starting to scaling globally. Strengthening the capability, skills and talent among a team of any size is critical for Irish SMEs seeking to grow in international markets. The ability of Irish businesses to attract, develop and retain the right skills and talent is essential to increasing global reach, productivity and competitiveness.Enterprise Ireland aims to support 1,700 new and additional Irish-owned exporters by 2029.

Enterprise Ireland has offices worldwide. Which 2 or 3 regions would you be urging Irish companies, particularly in food and agtech, to pay close attention to right now?

Enterprise Ireland has 42 international offices, with specialist staff, including 190 overseas market advisors, to support companies to explore new opportunities overseas. With global challenges in recent years, it has never been more important to support companies to focus on key markets and to double down on these by consolidating their presence. As global economies change, our team is also focused on market diversification and working with exporters who want to understand more about the opportunities that exist in new markets.

The Eurozone offers scale, regulatory alignment and tariff free access. More than a quarter (26%) of total exports from Enterprise Ireland supported companies went to the Eurozone in 2024, representing an increase of 9.6% to €9.42bn with growth recorded across many countries, including Germany, the Netherlands and France. There are huge opportunities for the food and agri sector within the region, with strong demand for value-added dairy and infant nutrition.

The UK continues to be a strategically important market for Irish agri food exporters with grass fed dairy, premium beef and the functional nutrition sectors continuing to see growth. Our recent export results show that exports to the UK reached €10.52bn in 2024, up 4% year-on-year, and exceeding €10 bn for the first time. Geographic location, language and commonalities in the business environment and customer need means the UK is often the first port of call in terms of international markets targeted by new exporters. The UK offers huge potential for established exporters who already have a presence in the market. Furthermore, sustainability standards are increasingly aligned with EU expectations.

Notwithstanding current challenges, the US continues to be an important market for dairy, functional nutrition, our drinks sector and grass-fed beef. We know from our team on the ground that US buyers increasingly value sustainability, traceability and clean-label products.

Irish companies with efficient processing and export capabilities are well-positioned to leverage opportunities in emerging new markets including West and Central Africa and Southeast Asia and China.

Aside from capital and market access, what is the missing ingredient in Ireland that could help more companies scale globally?

Right now, costs are rising, some markets are unpredictable, and technology is moving at a very fast pace. Disruption will lead to new opportunities, new business models, new innovations and new ways of thinking and working. Innovation is no longer a nice to have for companies, it is critical to remain globally competitive and for long-term sustainable growth.

The generation and application of AI and new knowledge through research, development and innovation (RD&I) is crucial to the future prosperity of Ireland’s food industry. To remain competitive globally, Irish companies must enhance the quality, level, and commercial impact of their RD&I activities. This means not only doing more RD&I but doing it smartly, focusing on projects that respond to fast-changing market opportunities and customer needs and embedding innovation across all business processes.

As part of our overall new organisational strategy, the goal is to realise a €2.2 billion spend on RD&I by Enterprise Ireland supported companies by 2029. We have a range of supports and offers available and encourage all of our client companies to discuss this with their dedicated Client Advisors to see what might be suitable for their business.