Ireland imported almost €2 billion worth of fruit and vegetables in 2025, even as the number of domestic horticultural producers continued to fall, according to trade figures highlighted by Agriland. The data show exports of fruit, vegetables and related products worth €492.5 million against imports totalling €1.97 billion, leaving a deficit of about €1.47 billion. By volume, Ireland exported 258,392 tonnes but brought in 1.19 million tonnes, underscoring how heavily the market depends on overseas supply.

That imbalance has sharpened concern about the resilience of the country’s food system. The Climate Change Advisory Council has already warned of Ireland’s high reliance on imported fruit and vegetables and has urged the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to examine whether domestic horticulture can be expanded to reduce food-security risks. In its 2026 annual review, the council also said farmers need more practical support, land-specific climate information and technology to adapt to changing weather conditions.

The warning comes against a backdrop of rising pressure on growers. Agriland reported that producers are facing higher costs, tighter margins and questions over the long-term viability of horticulture, while the number of Irish growers has steadily declined. Teagasc added to those concerns last week when it said severe drought across many counties through July and August placed “exceptional pressure” on outdoor field vegetable production. It also pointed to wider disruption in Europe this summer, saying crop losses abroad could quickly feed into Irish supply chains.

Teagasc went further in a report on the drought’s impact on the Irish outdoor vegetable sector, arguing that the experience should be treated as a warning rather than an isolated event. The organisation said Ireland’s food system leans on continental suppliers to fill gaps when domestic output is under strain, and that this back-up cannot be assumed to hold as climate change intensifies. The council’s broader review also noted that agriculture has missed its emissions-reduction target and that other climate-related goals, including afforestation and biomethane rollout, are moving too slowly, adding to the sense that Ireland’s farming system is under multiple forms of stress at once.

Align your brand with one of Ireland’s most respected food and drink awards programmes by becoming a Partner today of Ireland's Quality Food & Drink Awards today. Download our Media Pack here: https://irish.qualityfoodawards.com/irelandqualityfooddrinkawards2026/en/page/become-a-sponsor-or-partner