Farming & Food – A Sector Worth Backing
The IFA held a major farming and food conference at the Curragh Racecourse on Thursday, Oct 31st.
The Chief Executive of Bord Bia, Jim O’Toole, and the Chief Executive of Ornua, Conor Galvin, took part in the first session, followed by the Director of Teagasc, Prof. Frank O’Mara.
The Taoiseach, Simon Harris, delivered the keynote address at the event after IFA President Francie Gorman set the scene.
The Agri-Food Regulator, Niamh Lenehan, and IFA’s Director of European Affairs, Liam MacHale, addressed the conference in the afternoon, where they were joined on the panel by the IFA Deputy President, Alice Doyle.
The Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue, delivered the closing address.
The full conference programme and the presentations from the day are available below.
Conference Presentations
Full Conference Programme
| 09:30 | Registration/Tea/Coffee | |
| 10:15 | Conference Opening | |
| Session I, II and III moderator: Sean O’Rourke, Broadcaster & Podcaster | ||
| 10:20 | SESSION I: Challenges and opportunities in the global market | Jim O’Toole – CEO, Bord Bia Conor Galvin – CEO, Ornua |
| 11:30 | SESSION II: Meeting the regulatory landscape | Frank O’Mara – Director, Teagasc |
| 12:00 | SESSION III: The political challenges | Francie Gorman, IFA President Keynote Address – An Taoiseach, Simon Harris TD |
| 13:00 | Lunch | |
| Session IV and V moderator: Jack Kennedy, Editor, Irish Farmers Journal | ||
| 14:15 | SESSION IV: The next five years: What will be different? | Niamh Lenehan – CEO, The Office of An Rialálaí Agraibhia (Agri-Food Regulator) Liam MacHale – IFA Director of European Affairs, Brussels Joining the panel Frank O’Mara – Director, Teagasc Alice Doyle – IFA Deputy President |
| 15:30 | SESSION V: Closing Address: The next five years | Charlie McConalogue TD – Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine Joining the panel Francie Gorman – IFA President |
| 16:15 | Conference Ends. | |