On 12^th May 2014, the Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine Simon Coveney launched the Chamber’s Agrifood & Drinks Strategy for the Cork region took place in the Triskel Christchurch and was attended by over 150 stakeholders from the Agrifood and Drinks industry, relevant organisations and the wider business community. 

The Strategy presents the findings and recommendations from Cork Chamber's extensive research and consultations with regional and national stakeholders. Strategic recommendations are made across five major opportunity areas that best align with Cork’s natural and developed strengths to:

• Embed Cork’s Positioning as a Competitive Knowledge Economy & Leading Global Innovator in agri R & D;
• Ensure Cork’s Positioning as a Leading Provider of Cutting-Edge Talent;
• Position Cork as the Optimum Environment for Growing Agri-Businesses to incentivise agri-entrepreneurs, start-ups and scale-ups;
• Globally market Cork as a food region through co-ordinated marketing campaigns;
• Prime the region for long-term agri-growth by ensuring quality foundations and prime conditions through consensual regional strategic plans.

There has been extensive interest in the report’s recommendations from state agencies, education bodies and relevant local and regional organizations. Cork Chamber has sought feedback regarding an action plan to implement the strategy’s recommendations.

Copies of the strategy are available to view and download here.