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.