Teagasc, the farm and food production development organisation, is to be restructured to face the challenges posed by reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and a new World Trade deal.
Details of the strategy have been announced following an 18month review of the service's research, advisory and training operations.
The most significant change proposed is a re-orientation of research funding towards the critical areas of food innovation, food safety and quality.
It will also be aimed at achieving consistent beef quality. Greater priority is being devoted to research on competitive and sustainable milk and meat production.
Teagasc is also to expand its rural development research programme with emphasis on market opportunities for new enterprises, including an investigation of the feasibility of producing organic milk.
A national forestry soil classification and productivity ranking system is also being developed in conjunction with the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources.
The farm advisory service is being reorganised to meet the needs of the commercial farming sector and will focus on the new demands of competitiveness, diversification, food safety and quality.
More advanced training programmes are being put in place for prospective full-time farmers and horticulturists and more flexible training programmes will be designed to meet the needs of part-time farmers.