Two of the country's leading food company chief executives, Owen Killian of IAWS and John Moloney of Glanbia, are among the speakers at the Agricultural Science Association (ASA) National Conference, which takes place at the Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim, Co Meath on Friday 14 September.

The conference, which will be opened by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Mary Coughlan, will also be addressed by Professor Paddy Cunningham, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government and Professor Michael Gibney of UCD, a leading authority on food and health. EU and international policy issues affecting the agri-food sector will be addressed by Rosario Bento Pais, a senior member of EU Commisioner Fischer Boel's cabinet and by Neil Parish, Chairman of the Agriculture Committee of the European Parliament.

Pictured at the launch of the programme for the ASA National Conference in the Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim, Co Meath on Friday, 14 September were, from left: Professor Paddy Cunningham, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government and Neil Parish, Chairman European Parliament Agriculture Committee, both conference speakers, with Noel Hickey, FBD, conference partners.

ASA President, Dr Dermot Ruane, announced that the entire afternoon session is being devoted to a Farmer and Industry Forum. Four leading commercial farmers, Seamus Quigley, David Merrin, John Rodgers and David Kerr, will discuss their plans, hopes and needs and they will be followed by a panel discussion involving key industry executives and spokespersons.

The participants include IFA President, Padraig Walshe, John Keogh, Managing Director of Consumer Foods with the Irish Dairy Board, John O'Reilly, Davy Stockbrokers, John McGrath, Dawn Farm Foods, Cormac Healy, Meat Industry Ireland, Ailish Byrne, Ulster Bank and Aidan Connolly, European Vice-President with Alltech. The discussions will be chaired by Journal Editor, Matt Dempsey and journalist and farmer, P J Nolan.

Announcing details of the ASA National conference which takes place in the Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim, Co. Meath on Friday, 14 September, from left: Dr Dermot Ruane, ASA President with conference sponsors, Christina Lombard, Alltech, Liam Dunphy, Gouldings and Deirdre Healy, Ulster Bank

The conference partners are FBD Trust and the major sponsors are Gouldings, Alltech and Ulster Bank. Those attending are advised to register early by contacting the ASA at (01) 4603682;
Email: secretary@asaireland.ie

To download conference brochureclick here