An enhanced role for Teagasc and An Bord Bia is one of the main recommendations contained in a national plan for agriculture to be published later today.
The Agri Vision 2015 - Action Plan will also be consumer focused and will emphasise the role of food safety.
The report was signalled by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern 10 days ago in Birr, Co Offaly, when he addressed a Fianna Fáil conference on the future of agriculture.
The plan, which will be launched by Minister for Agriculture and Food Mary Coughlan, attempts to address the difficulties facing the sector identified in the Agri Vision 2015 report published last year.
That report identified the need for a more competitive farming and food sector because of the challenges it would meet from globalisation and the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.
While funding is not dealt with directly, as that will form part of the National Development Plan 2007-13 which is being prepared, it is recommended that income supports must continue.
It recognises that the State's primary role is to be supportive of the agriculture and food sector by providing income support within the parameters laid down by the EU policy framework.
It must also, the report says, facilitate business decisions by sensibly implementing schemes and regulations and by clearing blockages in the functioning of the market. The plan is expected to recommend continued consolidation of farming holdings, a freeing up of the milk quota systems and encouragement for farmers and food processors to find ways to connect farm production decisions more closely to market demands.
It is also expected to call for more financial support for research and development in Teagasc and other agencies and to recommend an expanded role for An Bord Bia, which markets Irish food and drink.
The report accepts the findings of the committee that the number of farmers here will fall to just over 100,000 in 10 years and that 45,000 of these will be non-viable, requiring the landowner or spouse to work off-farm.
More farmers will be encouraged into niche organic production, higher targets will be recommended for afforestation and there will be more encouragement for fuel crop production.
On the food industry, the report is expected to recommend rationalisation in the dairy and beef-processing areas where there is over-capacity and that it should be helped focus on consumer markets with increased financial support for R&D.
It will support the continuation of the rural environment protection scheme and the early retirement schemes.
Meanwhile, Teagasc yesterday announced that €20 million was being provided for new research with an increased emphasis on functional foods to provide health benefits to consumers.