Or why we should invest in food security just as much as in energy security.
Out cycling on Sunday last, I spotted the partially #wind powered Cldn Shipping Lines (https://www.cldn.com/en) #Brexit busting MV Delphine[i] passing Dalkey Island and decided to race it to Dublin Port[ii] – to see if I could beat it on a bicycle (a 19kg eBike to be sure but limited to assist below 10kph).
A croissant powered cyclist can’t beat a renewable energy powered ship, because we will run out of croissants before we will run out renewable wind.
By which, I’m drawing attention here to the fact Ireland imports – on ships like the MV Delphine – 80% of its fruit and vegetables[iii] and has been a net calorie importer since the noughties[iv]. If you thought, we were in ‘dire straits’[v] on energy security let me introduce you to food security.
We – Ireland – have been a net food calorie importer since the early 2000s, according to Agriland in 2016, below is a graphic (AI made) summarising our latest 2024 position from UN Food and Agriculture Organisation statistics on our food imports and exports, we remain net food importers.
Here’s RTE Ten Things[vi] take on the topic https://www.rte.ie/player/series/10-things-to-know-about/SI0000000009?epguid=AI10006667-10-0003 and the even more scary UK National Emergency briefing from last November 2025 https://www.nebriefing.org/expert-briefings/food-security.
As an island nation Ireland must do more to improve our food security if we are to have a functioning society that can prosper using our abundant renewable energy resources.
With regard to croissant powered cyclists, I’m no vegetarian, but I certainly eat a lot more veg now and a lot less red meat than I used to. Perhaps we should all make more local food choices that don’t require refrigeration – before the next Putin Puppet protester blocks distribution centres e.g. during the EU Presidency.
There is hope; Fuel protestors did more to accelerate adoption of EVs and domestic solar panels and batteries than any of us, political party or carbon tax.
Our ports are critical to our societal wellbeing (food supply) and prosperity (95% of goods exports by volume), yet we have no minesweepers, drone defences – nor road blockade breakers if the last few protests are anything to go by.
Due to time spent parking / docking I did beat the MV Delphine to its dock, but it was in the port well before me.
The tall twin towers you see on the top of the ship are modern day sails called Flettner[vii] rotors, a spinning cylinder that uses the Magnus effect to generate forward movement helping to save fuel and reduce CO2 emissions (by roughly 10% in this case).
Glad to say the Dublin Port Greenway was busy with cyclists, runners and walkers too, pay it a visit as soon as you can and tell people about it, raise awareness of the ports and our critical reliance on them as an island nation importing 79.5% of our energy and fuels, and over 80% of our fruit & veg.
We need a sense of urgency in addressing our security across food, energy and prosperity. Growing your own is good, but preparation is better. Other governments[viii] advise citizens to hold 3 days food, cash and essentials, Ireland’s tells us to be winter ready in February[ix].
Certainly, the grains needed for croissant flours are not grown here, but the wind to power our trade and exports is, we must accelerate building the pylons, offshore wind and dare I say it district heating from data centres for horticultural glasshouses to grow more fruit and veg locally and then we must buy it – #shoplocal.
More action less process please.
[i] With 8,000 lane meters or 8Km if you will of trailer space https://www.multimodal.org.uk/article/mv-delphine-returns-to-service-with-wind-propulsion-system-fitted
[ii] https://www.dublinport.ie/greenway/ great way to see Dublin from a different angle and to access the ferry terminals by bike!
[iii] https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-ti/irelandstradeingoods2024/food2024/
[iv] Ireland has been net importer of food since 2000, UN data reveals https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/ireland-has-been-net-importer-of-food-since-2000-un-data-reveals/ Jamie Ball May 26, 2016, 2:53pm “Doyle’s doctorate concluded that net food imports to the EU-28 is the equivalent of feeding 70 million people worldwide, thereby detracting from global food security. However, Doyle acknowledges that no FAO data on the value or volume of food products imported or exported to/from Ireland or the EU were analysed during his research. “My only analysis was in terms of [food] energy, as I was trying to tie it in with biofuels. When dealing with energy, you can do a direct conversion.” Or a later one from Cork Examiner https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/spotlight/arid-41369674.html
[v] Quote from Fatih Birol head of IEA.org “IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol painted a sobering picture of the global repercussions of what he called “the largest energy crisis we have ever faced,” stemming from the cut-off of oil, gas and other vital supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.
“In the past there was a (music) group called Dire Straits. It’s a dire strait now and it is going to have major implications for the global economy. And the longer it goes, the worse it will be for the economic growth and inflation around the world,” he said.” https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/04/16/europe-has-six-weeks-of-jet-fuel-left-caused-by-dire-strait-crisis-iea-chief-warns
[vi] 10 Things to Know About Episode 03. Food Security This episode explores the challenges of growing food in Ireland amidst extreme weather and global instability. 18 November 2024
[vii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flettner_rotor
[viii] Swedish MFA guide downloadable in English. Other Member States have similar https://www.mcf.se/en/advice-for-individuals/the-brochure-in-case-of-crisis-or-war/download-and-order-the-brochure-in-case-of-crisis-or-war/
[ix] Be Winter Ready 2025-26 distributed 6th February 2026 download from https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-defence/campaigns/be-winter-ready/