The opening session at Cork’s Rochestown Park Hotel, titled ‘Challenges and Opportunities within Agri-Food Systems’, will be chaired by Damien O’Reilly, EU affairs and communications manager with the Irish Co-Operative Organisation Society (ICOS).
The session, sponsored by Alltech, will see Damien joined by Dr Kevin Deegan, vice president of innovations and insight, Valio; Brendan Gleeson, secretary general, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; and Professor Thia Hennessy, head of the College of Business and Law, UCC.
“Driving innovation has become a major consideration for farmers, co-ops and food producers,” said ASA president, Susan Maher. “And with a new Common Agricultural Policy firmly coming into our collective focus, no element of our sector can afford to stand still as we plan for the future.
She added: “As part of that future, there’s an onus on industry and sector leaders alike to communicate positively at both government and EU level, which in turn will generate greater consumer confidence. So with all of that in mind, I’m looking forward to hearing the perspectives of our panellists given their industrial, government and academic backgrounds.”
This year’s conference, which will focus on Ireland’s role in global food security, will feature opening addresses by Susan Maher and Martin Heydon, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
During the conference, experts and primary producers from national and international spheres will assess the agrifood industry’s current state of play while casting an eye towards the future.