Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Cookies that are categorised as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Read our privacy policy here for more details.
Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

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.


Watch Highlights Below


Conference Presentations

The Next European Mandate

Liam MacHale – IFA Director of European Affairs

Meeting the Regulatory Landscape

Prof. Fran O’Mara – Director, Teagasc

Challenges & Opportunities in the Global Market

Jim O’Toole – CEO, Bord Bia

Challenges & Opportunities in the Global Market

Conor Galvin – CEO, Ornua

The Agri-Food Regulator: Role & Work Programme

Niamh Lenehan – CEO, The Office of An Rialálaí Agraibhia (Agri-Food Regulator)


Full Conference Programme

09:30Registration/Tea/Coffee
10:15Conference Opening 
Session I, II and III moderator: Sean O’Rourke, Broadcaster & Podcaster
10:20SESSION I:
Challenges and opportunities in the global market
Jim O’Toole – CEO, Bord Bia
Conor Galvin – CEO, Ornua
11:30SESSION II:
Meeting the regulatory landscape
Frank O’Mara – Director, Teagasc
12:00SESSION III:
The political challenges
Francie Gorman, IFA President
Keynote Address – An Taoiseach, Simon Harris TD
13:00Lunch
Session IV and V moderator: Jack Kennedy, Editor, Irish Farmers Journal
14:15SESSION 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
15:30SESSION V:
Closing Address: The next five years
Charlie McConalogue TD – Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine

Joining the panel
Francie Gorman – IFA President
16:15Conference Ends.