Louise McKeever
Chief Information Officer (CIO), Department of Agriculture, Food and The Marine
The agri-food sector includes primary production in farming, fishing and forestry and the processing and manufacture of food, beverages and wood products.
Agri-food is Ireland’s oldest and largest indigenous exporting sector and reaches out from every corner of the country to global markets. In 2022, the sector employed 164,900 people, representing 6.5% of the total workforce across 135,000 farms, 2,000 fishing vessels and aquaculture sites and around 2,000 food production and beverage enterprises.
It is crucial to the economy, particularly in rural and coastal areas. The sector is supported by EU and national funding of over €2 billion annually, delivered through Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine schemes.
Digital and the agri-food sector
As the world becomes increasingly digitised, the agri-food sector must embrace technology and adopt a digital strategy to improve efficiency, productivity and sustainability. The use of digital technology in agriculture can lead to a more data-driven approach to farming, enabling farmers to make better decisions and optimise their resources.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is currently undergoing a digital transformation, incorporating digital technology to reimagine the business of the agri-food sector in the digital age. Digital transformation has helped us move away from an analogue, paper-based system — towards one that ensures the availability of online options for consumers.
To make further progress, we must be agile; agility is and must be at the heart of everything we do as a Department. We must also continue to leverage data from both internal and external sources. To leverage data and drive the digital agenda, we have built a corporate-wide data warehouse and self-service platform.
As the world becomes increasingly digitised, the
agri-food sector must embrace technology.
Digital enablement for the agricultural sector
Being digital is our priority to maximise efficiency and ensure that the department continues to support enhanced prosperity for the agricultural sector. To enable this, we have introduced modern containerised platforms to the operational business of the department.
IT continues to be under intense pressure to increase agility and speed up the delivery of new functionality. These platforms allow us to do that and support our digital journey. They enable our digital and modernisation programme. Digital technology can enable more sustainable and environmentally friendly farming practices.
The world is becoming increasingly digital, and Ireland is no exception. With the rapid pace of technological advancement and the ever-increasing reliance on digital technologies, DAFM recognises the importance of having a comprehensive framework for the integration of digital technology.