Risk and Reward – a New Era for Agri-Food
ASA Conference & Banquet: September 12th and 13th 2019
#ASA2019
The Agricultural Science Association (ASA) today announced the details of the 77th annual conference which takes place in the Lyrath Hotel, Kilkenny on Friday 13th September 2019. The theme for this year’s conference, which is once again sponsored by FBD Insurance, is 'Risk and Reward: A New Era for Agri-Food'.
This year, the ASA has partnered with Bord Bia to commission research on the current challenges for farmers, consumers and the trade in order to inform the future direction of the Irish agri-food industry. The findings of this research will be presented on the morning of the event and will inform the direction of a series of panel discussions and interviews throughout the day.
The conference will hear from a host of Irish and International agri-food experts including: Tiffany Lee, North American Meat Institute; Mark Griffin, Secretary General, Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment; Roisín Hennerty, Ornua Global Foods; Gerry Boyle, Teagasc; Andrew McHugh, Smart Farming Farmer; Dr. Anneline Padayachee, The Food & Nutrition Doctor; and Oisín Coughlan, Friends of the Earth.
The full final line up for the event was announced at the end of August
Amii McKeever, ASA President said:
“It is undoubtedly an incredibly challenging time for the agri-food industry and we look forward to bringing together a number of key players from across the sector to discuss how we can continue to adapt and evolve to meet these challenges. An insight-led approach is key to informing the future direction of the industry and we look forward to analysing the findings of our research and discussing how we as an industry can best move forward.”
The conference marks the end of Amii McKeever’s tenure as ASA President. Reflecting on the last year, Amii highlighted the ASA’s role in supporting, mentoring and developing its members to ensure that the Irish agri-food industry remains at the top of its game. “The Agricultural Science graduate is now working in an environment where changes are taking place at a faster rate than ever. If we are serious about continuing to drive innovation and competitiveness in agri-food on a global scale, we must continue to invest in science and people, both of which are the lynchpins for the continuing transformation of our industry.”
The conference is set to attract more than 300 professionals working within Ireland’s agri-food sector. The day-long event will comprise of a number of engaging panel discussions, presentations and interviews featuring prominent agri-industry experts.
The conference is set to attract more than 300 professionals working within Ireland’s agri-food sector. The day-long event will comprise of a number of engaging panel discussions, presentations and interviews featuring prominent agri-industry experts.
The ASA President’s Banquet also takes place on the eve of the conference on Thursday 12th September. This black-tie event is now considered to be the largest and most important networking opportunity of the year for those working in sectors allied to agricultural science, attracting industry leaders and senior executives from right across the Irish agricultural and food industry.
Tickets for the ASA conference and banquet were available to purchase from www.asaireland.ie. The full conference agenda and final list of speakers will be announced in the coming weeks and regular updates will be available on @asaireland