The Irish food and drink industry exported food and drink products with a total value of €13 bn in 2019. Ireland’s export footprint has also expanded greatly over recent years with Irish food and drink now being sold in over 180 markets worldwide.
Ireland provides a unique setting for food production. 80% of Ireland’s agricultural land is devoted to grasslands, with a yearly grass growth rate that exceeds the European average by more than a third. The Irish agri-food sector has a rich heritage and is Ireland’s largest indigenous industry, employing approximately 7.7% of the working population.