Martin Heydon
Kildare South · Fine Gael · Ireland
“In the time allotted to us, I would say we will not be able to cover everything in CAP. To take the last point first, the budget is everything. While it is not part of my negotiations as chair of the AGRIFISH Council, it is a key focus of the Irish Presidency.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this important point. A key focus of Food Vision 2030, the shared stakeholder-led strategy for the agrifood sector, is to grow the value of Irish agrifood exports in international markets, which, as I outlined earlier, we have been very successful at in recent years.”
“All producers selling raw milk must register with my Department and are subject to risk-based official controls that include inspection, audit and sampling.”
“Whether it is farmers with particular issues that are leading to environmental issues or issues with structures that need to be replaced, we are very lucky to have capital support in agriculture. I really believe in our TAMS structure.”
“I was delighted to be able to introduce the tillage sustainability support scheme earlier this year. I have not been found wanting in standing up and supporting a tillage sector that has been under pressure in recent times. The same applies to horticulture.”
“Following the publication of the report, I wrote to the chairperson of the board on 22 June 2026, requesting that the board develop a timely and effective action plan to address the recommendations in the report, and I will be seeking regular updates on its progress. I want to see these recommendations implemented and progressed.”
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“I thank the Deputy for raising this important point. A key focus of Food Vision 2030, the shared stakeholder-led strategy for the agrifood sector, is to grow the value of Irish agrifood exports in international markets, which, as I outlined earlier, we have been very successful at in recent years. In 2025, Irish exports were recorded at €20.8 billion, with exports to over 180 countries worldwide. Given the dependence of the sector on exports, trade and market diversification are a priority for my Department. Food Vision 2030 reflects the importance of diversifying and developing new markets and new market segments for Irish food and drink products in the UK, the EU and wider international markets. Food Vision also aims to increase the value of exports of sustainably produced and high-quality Irish food and beverages globally.”
“We have great opportunities from a business perspective to sell that nutrient-rich, protein-dense food, which is really important.”
“Thankfully, Irish farmers' food produce is really nutrient dense and protein rich. There is a question scheduled for later today about the threat and impact of GLP-1s on our food-producing nation. These new drugs make people consume 30% less food and drink. I see this as a massive opportunity. If you are on a GLP-1, you are more aware of the additives. People are becoming more aware all the time of vitamins B and D, as the Deputy outlined, and their importance to us. As people take in less on a GLP-1, they become more aware of how important it is not to lose muscle density and to have a protein-high diet. Our pasture-based system for dairy, beef, lamb and beyond produces nutrient-rich food. Our fisheries produce fish full of omega-3 and all the best nutrients. From that perspective, we have a great story to tell here.”
“I have drunk raw milk myself and I quite enjoy it but it is an informed decision, no more than eating steak tartare. It is an informed decision that comes with a risk that people are aware of. The reason we cook our food and pasteurise our milk is to take away the risk of microbial problems.”
“We are getting plenty of vitamin D at the minute, which is well received. Our safety standards are beyond reproach in Ireland. When I go on international trade missions - I have just been discussing the value of our trade exports - the first thing discussed in places like Asia and beyond is how trusted our food safety standards are. That is really important. It is not something we will ever be complacent about. It is a unique selling point for us that people know our systems are beyond reproach. Where we have products with a higher level of risk for certain cohorts like infants, pregnant women or people who are immunosuppressed, it is incumbent on us to highlight that so that, to the very point the Deputy made, people can make informed choices. We produce safe food that is nutrient dense.”
“In 2018, the industry representative body Raw Milk Ireland published guidelines on the sale of raw milk. The guide was developed in conjunction with my Department and the FSAI with the objective of helping producers understand the legal requirements and provide additional information to food business operators with a view to reducing the risks associated with raw milk.”
“All producers selling raw milk must register with my Department and are subject to risk-based official controls that include inspection, audit and sampling. A derogation in EU and Irish legislation exempts producers selling small quantities of raw milk directly to consumers, that is, sales of less than 30 litres and within a radius of 20 km, from these regulatory requirements. However, these producers are still bound by the general food law provision and they must only put safe food on the market. The advice of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, FSAI, is that the public should not drink raw milk without boiling it first. This is based on advice from the authority’s scientific committee as there is a risk of illness associated with drinking raw milk. There is a reason we pasteurise the milk the vast majority of people use.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this important point. I enjoy his engagement on all things agriculture. I am not sure how many farmers there are in his constittuency but there are a lot of consumers, and I have no doubt they appreciate and enjoy the produce of our farmers. In Ireland, the sale of raw milk for direct consumption is governed by legislation commonly known as the hygiene package. Regulation EC Nos. 852 and 853 of 2004 are particularly relevant. These regulations set out detailed rules for the production and sale of raw milk including hygiene requirements for production on farm and the hygiene standards required when bottling milk. There is also a specific rule for labelling, which requires the milk to be labelled as raw milk.”
“-----is the equivalence in food standards with the Red Tractor quality assurance scheme. I will not stand for us drifting away from that and allowing the undermining of our quality assurance scheme, which has served us so well. I will not let that happen on my watch.”
“I also have to look at the threats here, which include the UK post Brexit, the deals it has done with Australia and New Zealand and the price pressure that is going to put on our market sales in a country where over 50% of our beef goes. The reason we have such a strong and dominant position in the British market-----”
“How does the Deputy think we doubled the value of Irish farmers' exports and produce, from about €10 billion in 2010 to €20.8 billion last year? We did that through the work of Origin Green, the work of our farmers and others, and the work of Bord Bia in promoting and supporting Irish agrifood businesses that are selling Irish farmers' produce and giving that best possible price return to our farmers. We also have to look at the threats in the future. My job is not just to sit here and have Deputy Kenny tell me what the priorities are, with which I disagree. He tells me that confidence is gone, whereas the report says the vast majority of the board are very satisfied with the chair's position.”
“I am at the heart of the central point that matters to farmers, which is the income from their produce and the structures we have in place as a State to support them and get the best return for our market value.”
“We see Teagasc's farm survey reports of exceptional prices and income for most sectors last year. We saw the pressure on beef finishers at the start of this year. We now see this price strengthening and coming back great. This is directly linked to international markets. I am happy to talk about the pressure we are coming under in the British market, which is our key export market for beef and more. These are the things that matter.”
“The issues in this area have been well aired, and I am on the record of the House as having clearly outlined the facts as they are. I am not going to rehash them, but the Deputy talks about things at the heart of the matter. I will tell him what is at the heart of the matter. It is the price that farmers get for their beef, lamb, dairy produce and beyond. It is about how we can best, as a country that exports 90% of the food and drink we produce, give the best income back to our farmers. We will discuss a range of topics here over the next hour and a half including generational renewal, supporting the sustainable income of our farmers and more. The work of Bord Bia and Origin Green is integral to that. That is what matters to farmers. We see the income volatility across our areas.”
“The other element that came out of this issue over the last six months has been the establishment of the Bord Bia farmers forum, which had its first meeting last Monday week. One hundred quality-assured farmers were in a room discussing, debating and listening, in a two-way fashion, to Bord Bia officials regarding Origin Green and quality assurance, which delivers so much for them. All the feedback I got from that meeting, from the farmers who were at it and others, was that it was a very positive event. It is an addition to farmers' two-way engagement with Bord Bia around quality assurance, which is very much in farmers' interest.”
“Following the publication of the report, I wrote to the chairperson of the board on 22 June 2026, requesting that the board develop a timely and effective action plan to address the recommendations in the report, and I will be seeking regular updates on its progress. I want to see these recommendations implemented and progressed. I am confident that the implementation of the recommendations from this independent review will help to further strengthen the board of Bord Bia in fulfilling its important mandate. From the chair's perspective, the report found that, in the view of the board members, he chairs the organisation very positively. It was noted that he provides clear leadership of the board and maintains an appropriate focus on governance and strategy. Bord Bia is doing extremely important work on farmers' behalf.”
“I thank Deputy Kenny for raising this issue, which was discussed many times in this House earlier in the year. I welcome the report following the completion of the independent governance review into the board of Bord Bia. My Department met with Governance Ireland, which carried out the independent review, and the board of Bord Bia on the day the report was published to discuss its findings and recommendations. The review made 22 recommendations, as the Deputy will be aware, many of which were aimed at strengthening Bord Bia’s governance framework, identified through normal working practices and beyond. The recommendations for improvement in the report are directed at governance processes generally and board members’ understanding of these processes, and not at the chair or any board member personally.”
“From my perspective, I stand here as the Minister for agriculture and our Department is investing very heavily in supporting farmers to improve, enhance and invest in capital infrastructure for a variety of very good reasons, from farm safety to supporting farmers. Obviously, that will also aid and impact the climate and environment and future-proof our farms.”
“The answer to the second question is that I am not aware of them, if they do exist. I am happy to talk to the Minister for housing, who regularly brings updates on the defective blocks scheme to Cabinet. The Government is using billions of euro of taxpayers’ money to support the very people the Deputy is talking about in terms of their family homes and the awful blight that has happened to people because of defective blocks. While the issue first arose in Donegal, Mayo and the wider west, we are now seeing memos come to Cabinet about Carlow, Meath and places like that, and the challenge this has caused for people's homes. As I said, I am happy to discuss this with Deputy Browne, as the Minister with responsibility in that area, and on the construction side of things.”
“It has been secured for the period from 2023 to 2027, with €370 million available under 11 different headings - I will not list them as time is up - under which capital investment can be made on farms. This is available to all farmers, including farmers in Donegal.”
“Whether it is farmers with particular issues that are leading to environmental issues or issues with structures that need to be replaced, we are very lucky to have capital support in agriculture. I really believe in our TAMS structure. For me, the targeted agriculture modernisation scheme gets to the heart of generation renewal and hits the issues of climate, environment and animal welfare. The scheme is demand-led and entirely voluntary for farmers but the measures provide grants for capital investment in physical assets to assist the Irish agriculture sector to respond to a range of policy challenges and measures. Grant aid is available for qualified applicants. There are 11 different headings for TAMS. This is what exists at the minute. As I said, the scheme is greatly oversubscribed and there is massive demand for it.”
“Like everything else, in terms of the discussion we have just had on the budget, the available budget will determine whether we will be able to have a TAMS or what a TAMS will look like the next time.”
“However, as TAMS 3 is a demand-led scheme with a defined allocated budget, the huge uptake to date has meant the application of ranking and selection approval of only a certain percentage of applications for certain measures in recent TAMS application tranches. This has had to be applied to manage the available budget for TAMS 3. As the current CAP strategic plan is at such an advanced stage - it ends in 2027 - it will not be possible to add new investment measures to the current programme. However, I will ensure that the list of investment items will continue to be reviewed on a regular basis and to inform consideration of any new investment support scheme which may be developed for the CAP post 2027.”
“Following wide consultation with stakeholders as part of the consultation process in advance of the submission of Ireland's current CAP strategic plan, a comprehensive list of investment items has been provided for under TAMS 3. However, support related to farm or agriculture buildings impacted by defective concrete was not included in the list of measures available in the TAMS 3 scheme. It is important to highlight that TAMS 3 has been extremely successful, with huge interest from farmers. My Department has issued almost 50,000 approvals, allowing farmers to proceed with their investments. Payments of over €172 million have already issued to farmers to support the investments they have made in their farm businesses.”
“I thank Deputy Ward for raising this point. The targeted agriculture modernisation scheme, TAMS, 3 is a key element of the current CAP strategic plan and provides grants to farmers to invest in their farm businesses through building and-or improving a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, which establishes rules on support for strategic plans to be drawn up by member states under the Common Agricultural Policy, stipulates that support measures must be linked to climate, environment and animal welfare and the economic sustainability of the agriculture sector is to be ensured. However, each member state is given the flexibility to decide on what measures and investments best support these objectives.”
“This is about us being able to access additional money to increase that percentage. I am working with colleagues across member states to be able to do that. In terms of the point on coupled payments, this is directly linked to what happens with entitlements. Right now, there is no provision for entitlements. Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 are gone and the NRPP structure is here to stay. I do not think farmers could really tell us what pillar their payment came from; they just know what is important about it. We have to work within the mechanisms. I am happy that in recent times, under the Cyprus Presidency, we did get a number of decisions made, such as on active farming, under the CAP regulation and not the NRPP regulation, which means it will be the agriculture ministers deciding, which is very important.”
“To go back to the broader point about the funding, the ring-fenced budget is 76% of the past seven years. It is not enough. It is not nearly enough for what we need, what our ambitions are and what we want to do over the next seven years to support the agriculture, food and fisheries sectors. In terms of the mechanics of how we do this, we have the €45 million that President von der Leyen brought forward as a proposal in January. We have conditionality through the national regional partnership plan, NRPP, structure around a certain amount having to go to social cohesion. There is more money to be chased in terms of the overall pot but there is conditionality around it. This is where I am talking about flexibility and member states having the flexibility to be able to access it.”
“There are the countries traditionally known as the frugals, which are concerned about the size of the budget and want it to be less. Many countries, in eastern Europe in particular, are demanding that a larger allocation of the spend goes to the area of defence than has been the case historically. There are also many countries saying they are not able to pay more in. There are a lot of competing demands, which is why I have positioned food security and funding for the CAP, not as distinct and in opposition to the request for more money for defence, but as complementing it because food security is an integral part of the question of security.”
“It is fair to say that across the AGRIFISH Council, all of the Ministers for agriculture and fisheries want to see the maximum budget for the next Common Agricultural Policy and the next Common Fisheries Policy. That is obviously what we would expect. At the last Council meeting, I made the point to Ministers for agriculture that we need to go back and make sure, in every member state, that if the minister for agriculture is saying this, then the minister for finance and Prime Minister should also be saying it at the European Council, ECOFIN and all of the other Councils. The Tánaiste is in Brussels today and tomorrow on this. In this regard, the Irish Government is four-square behind the approach of maximising the funding for the CAP. Other governments have different approaches.”
“In relation to income support, the Commission's proposals continue to provide for the use of coupled payments under the future CAP, where this is justified. Ireland could, for example, continue operating coupled income support in the same way as under the current CAP strategic plan, where protein aid is paid as a coupled payment. That is an example of that but there are a number of elements and what happens with them - like in relation to entitlements, which I can expand on in a minute - will determine whether coupled payments would work or will be needed.”
“Getting the full general approach is out of our control but we hope to get as close as possible to an agreed Council position across all issues so that the position is set for the trilogues, which are the negotiations between the Commission's proposals, the Parliament's proposals and our own proposals. Negotiations on the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy are progressing well. Progress was made under the Danish and Cyprus Presidencies, with discussions now increasingly focused on the remaining political and technical issues regarding the CAP regulation. During its Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Ireland's role will be to facilitate negotiations, build consensus among member states and act as an honest broker in advancing the discussions.”
“In the time allotted to us, I would say we will not be able to cover everything in CAP. To take the last point first, the budget is everything. While it is not part of my negotiations as chair of the AGRIFISH Council, it is a key focus of the Irish Presidency. Working with the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and all colleagues across government, we will be looking to significantly progress negotiations on the multi-annual financial framework, MFF, and will work with member states in that regard. I want to progress as many files as I can and progress the Council's position on as many positions as possible, ideally agreeing a partial general approach across the 27 member states so that the Council's position will be locked in. We cannot get to a full agreed general approach unless the budget is agreed because we need the figures as part of that.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this really important issue. I know how important tillage is for the south east and the Wicklow-Wexford area. The straw incorporation measure is a really positive support measure for tillage farmers, with very positive impacts on organic carbon levels in soil. I am acutely aware of how important it is to farmers from an income perspective as well. This year has seen a really high level of applications, far exceeding the €10 million allocated for it. At present, all possible options are being considered. A decision will be made shortly and farmers will be notified as soon as possible of the details of the scheme for 2026.”
“I look forward to bringing in this legislation soon and I have no doubt we will have many opportunities throughout all Stages of that legislation to discuss it here in the Seanad, in the Dáil and in the committee.”
“The strengthened improvement notice regime will explicitly empower authorised officers to require a reduction in the number of dogs on premises where welfare concerns arise. Local authorities also retain the ability to set conditions on the number of breeding females as part of the registration process and this avenue remains open to them, particularly in respect of new applications. It is about putting best practice into place. While non-statutory guidelines for dog breeding establishments were published in 2018, these set out advisory best practices but were not legally binding. That has been the big challenge here. Several of the amendments proposed by the Bill will now give legislative force to recommendations contained in those guidelines, which is a significant step forward.”
“That creates an indirect but real constraint on establishment size. The Senator is talking about capping and, as I said, there is a whole legislative process to go through here. What is the size of the premises? Are we talking about a garage or a warehouse? What is the appropriate number of dogs in each of them? The cap is quite a crude instrument in itself. There are many constraints in this proposed legislation that do not exist at the minute.”
“Obviously, I am in the hands of the Oireachtas on the timing of the legislation. There will be pre-legislative scrutiny through the agriculture committee where members will be able to have their say. The Chair of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food, Deputy Aindrias Moynihan, is working with me to have that fast-tracked and take place before the summer recess with legislation to be introduced early in the autumn. I am determined to deliver on this very quickly. The Bill addresses concerns about excessive numbers through many means. The Senator referenced the cap. When talking about the 20 dogs, that is the staffing ratio that will come into place; it does not exist at the minute. There is no staffing ratio for the number of staff per breeding animals. The mandatory staffing ratio will be 1:20.”
“I have not included a hard legislative cap on the total number of breeding females at a dog breeding establishment in the present draft heads of Bill, which is what we are currently dealing with. Legal advice indicates that there are difficulties with such an approach. There are also practical issues that would have to be explored further. An establishment can in principle increase in size and staffing to accommodate more animals without necessarily affecting welfare outcomes. My Department will engage with the Office of the Attorney General to explore the question of a cap further during the formal drafting stage and it has not been ruled out. This is draft legislation that will go through all Stages in the Dáil and Seanad. There is a long process for this to go through.”
“There is a significant role here that many other well-structured organisations can offer dogs and much-loved family pets for future operation as well. Those who carry out dog breeding properly and well will have nothing to fear from this legislation because it puts them on a firm footing, puts a proper structure in place and takes away the veil that has hung over the whole process to date. On administration and enforcement, authorised officers will be granted new powers to seize and detain dogs where it is reasonably suspected that an offence has been committed. Penalties for the most serious offences will be significantly increased, with fines of up €250,000 and-or five years imprisonment, bringing sanctions under the 2010 Act in line with those available under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.”
“Under the new legislation, it will be unlawful for operators to sell dogs under eight weeks of age or to sell them from any premises other than where they were born and reared. Prior to any sale, prospective buyers must be shown the pup’s biological mother on site. This is a really practical and a seismic change because there are a lot of people out there who passionately believe in this legislation, love their family dog but do not know where their puppy came from and probably do not want to know. If we make the process that they have to go and see where it is, that will make a very significant change in people who have happily turned a blind eye just to get that much-loved family pet. We need to reflect on that and we need to reflect on the role charities and others can play.”
“A mandatory minimum staffing ratio of one full-time equivalent staff member per 20 breeding females will also be placed on a statutory footing, with a two-year transition period to allow operators to adjust in a timely and responsible manner. The Bill will ban third-party sales from dog breeding establishments. This goes to the point the Senator made about people buying dogs online. I have heard anecdotal stories of people with their much-loved family pet and when you ask them how they acquired it and where they got it, they will say they met somebody in a public car park somewhere and they paid for that puppy. However, they had no sense of where that puppy had been bred, what the conditions were like, what the mother of that dog was, whether she was put straight back into pup and the likes.”
“I brought the heads of Bill to Cabinet and received approval to go ahead and draft the full legislation. On welfare and breeding standards, the Bill will place enhanced duties on operators covering the socialisation and habituation of dogs. It will introduce a four-litter lifetime limit and a one-litter-per-year cap, set minimum and maximum breeding age limits, prohibit the mating of bitches that have had two prior Caesarean sections and introduce a ban on in-breeding, which people might presume already exists in legislation but does not. We will also outlaw that awful practice. In response to the Senator’s earlier point, this is about ensuring the legislation is robust. I also have to work to make sure any current or future legislation is properly enforced.”
“I thank Senator Andrews for raising this point. It is something I am deeply passionate about. Reform of the legislation governing dog welfare is a key priority for me and for the Government. In order to bring a coherent approach to dog control, policy and legislative responsibility under both the Control of Dogs Act 1986 and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 transferred to my Department last year as part of our programme for Government commitments. In both cases, local authorities retain responsibility for operational and enforcement matters. I am pleased to confirm the dog breeding establishments (amendment) Bill 2026 is being actively progressed. The Bill has 17 heads and addresses three broad areas, namely, welfare and breeding standards, sales and record keeping and administration and enforcement.”
“In answer to the Deputy's direct question, he was tasked with drafting a chairman's report by June of this year. There has been a series of meetings since 16 February, the meeting of the task force group that I attended in Howth. The deadline for receipt of seafood industry submissions was 2 March. On 10 and 11 March, there were five sector-specific meetings held in the Department's Backweston campus. Representatives from across the seafood industry have attended and have had a series of meetings. That work has been ongoing. I commend everyone on their very strong commitment to this and look forward to receiving the chairman's report in the near future.”
“I thank Deputy Collins for raising this important issue. The Food Vision seafood sector group was launched on 16 February by me and my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley. The group was established in a response to the significantly reduced fishing opportunities for 2026 and will operate under the auspices of the Food Vision 2030 group, through which we have had a series of Food Vision subgroups to look at and tackle key areas. It is considering the challenges facing all three components of the Irish seafood sector, from the catch fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing. The group's membership is comprised of representatives from across the seafood industry. Mr. Michael Berkery, the former general secretary of the IFA, has been appointed as the independent chairperson for this group.”
“That cannot be achieved without fully recognising and supporting the role of women in farming and rural life. The women who work in agriculture today are innovators, business owners, land managers, educators, community leaders and custodians of rural life. Their contribution deserves not only recognition, but investment, support and equal opportunity. As it is in line with Government policy and my priorities as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I support the motion on women in agriculture. I thank Senator Boyhan for putting it forward and thank all Members for their contributions. With the indulgence of the House, I wish to acknowledge the great people from Voice for Kare in Kildare, who are in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. It is a fantastic organisation. I welcome the CEO, Ms Margaret O’Neill, and the other visitors.”
“My Department held a conference to launch the year in Ireland and to celebrate International Women’s Day. At that conference, I announced the new International Year of the Woman Farmer ambassador, who will represent women in Irish agriculture, raising awareness of existing supports and highlighting issues important to women farmers. As Senator Brady outlined, Carina Roseingrave, this year’s ambassador, has certainly hit the ground running. Further events for the International Year of the Woman Farmer will be held throughout the year. Women have always been at the heart of agriculture. The task before us now is to ensure that policy, opportunity and recognition finally reflect that reality. The future of agriculture depends on our ability to build a sector that is sustainable, resilient, innovative and fair.”
“The International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 provides an important opportunity not only to celebrate the immense contribution of women in farming, but also to further drive equality and sustainability within the sector. It is a chance to ensure that the next generation of women entering agriculture can see a future where their voices are heard, their work is recognised and their leadership is valued. We have taken a leading role internationally, including co-sponsoring the launch with Jordan at the Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome last year. Ireland is promoting the role of women in sustainable agri-food systems globally, recognising that empowering women farmers strengthens food security, rural economies and climate resilience.”
“Work on the plan is ongoing, and an implementation report will be published later this year. Education, visibility and representation are key drivers of change, as many of the contributions today have highlighted. The women in agriculture working group has prioritised promoting agriculture as a viable career for girls and women, supporting flexible education pathways, improving gender-balanced communications and creating platforms that highlight female leadership and innovation across the agri-food sector. Progress requires cultural change, strong representation, equal access to opportunities and continued support for women at every stage of the farming journey. It also requires us to challenge perceptions about who a farmer is.”
“A review of the terms and conditions and eligibility criteria for Department schemes and payment supports was undertaken to ensure they do not present unintended barriers to women’s participation in farming. This includes the improved collection of gender-related data. We have improved the herd number application process, with updated application forms, guidance notes and standard operating procedures to ensure consistency and transparency across the system. We have continued to prioritise increased viability across the sector through initiatives such as the Spotlight on Female-led Sustainability booklet and the gender equality excellence in agricultural education studies award established in collaboration with the UCD school of agriculture and food science.”