1. JOHN MALONE Agriculture and Business www.nrn.ie1

2. Agriculture in the Economy Severe Economic Contraction Drop in Consumer purchasing Power Weak World Demand Reduced Public Expenditure No New Expenditure Scale and Depth of Problems Lack of Confidence /Uncertainty www.nrn.ie2

3. Impact On Rural Ireland Economic Impact Nationwide Unemployment: Rural Ireland badly affected; farm incomes Decline in Off Farm Employment: Drop of 1/3 Loss of Building Activity Emigration ; more visible in Rural Ireland Land Values More Realistic Attitudes to a Career in Agriculture www.nrn.ie3

4. Agriculture is Big Business Business: worth €10 Billion + Value of Exports: €8 Billion User of Inputs: €4 Billion Borrowings: €5 Billion Investment: €1.9 Billion Direct and Indirect Employment: 180,000 people www.nrn.ie4

5. Shared National Agenda Get Economy Growing Stabilise Public Finances Get the Banking System Working Improve Competitiveness Social Partnership: 1987/pay bargaining Different style Social Partnership www.nrn.ie5

6. Shared Goals Economy has potential to grow: ESRI Different Drivers of Growth Exports Exploit the Environment Flexible Work Force Up the Value Chain from Basic Manufacturing A Good place to Do Business Different economy than in the 1980’s www.nrn.ie6

7. Issues When Global Demand Picks Up: we are positioned See Environment as an Asset Structure of Agri-Food Sector Get our Cost base Down Innovation Use the Assets we built in the last decade www.nrn.ie7

8. Alliances Consumer/ now greater trust Education / wider agenda and within Agriculture/back to Education Investment in R and D Policy on Energy Climate Change/ holistic approach Business Sector Exporters www.nrn.ie8

9. Rural Development Exposure to Building Sector Small food Companies, 400 Attitude to CAP post 2013;net contributors Targeted use of Funds Role of Forestry Tourism Sector Communications www.nrn.ie9

10. Policy Formation Sectoral Issues Will Always be There Pillars of Rural Development’ competitiveness, enterprise, environment. Cross Cutting Issues/ Thematic Approach Approach Followed by EU Commission Social Partnership No sector is an island www.nrn.ie10