THURSDAY 4 SEPTEMBER 2025 Rochestown Park Hotel, Co. Cork
OPENING ADDRESS
9.00 - 10.00
Welcome: Mr. Damien O'Reilly, EU Affairs & Communications Manager, ICOS
Opening Address: Ms. Susan Maher, ASA President
Ministerial Address: Minister Martin Heydon, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Sponsored by Irish Farmers Journal
Session 1
10.30 - 11.45
Challenges and Opportunities within Food Production
Chair: Mr. Damien O'Reilly, EU Affairs & Communications Manager, ICOS
- Dr Kevin Deegan - Vice President of Innovation and Insight, Valio
- Secretary General Brendan Gleeson - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Prof. Thia Hennessy - Head of the College of Business and Law, University College Cork
Sponsored by Alltech
SESSION 2
11.45 - 13.00
Sustainable Solutions for Food Production
Chair: Ms. Mary Delaney, Chair of Dairy Research Ireland
- Mr. Jim O'Toole - CEO, Bord Bia
- Ms. Roberta McDonald - Head of Programme, Agreena
- Mr. Pat Whelan - CEO, James Whelan Butchers
SESSION 3
1400 - 15.15
How Irish Agriculture Plays a Role in Food Security
Chair: Mr. Joe Burke - Senior Manager Meat and Livestock Client & Stakeholder Engagement
- Mr. Cornelius Traas - Horticulturist and Assistant Professor in University of Limerick
- Mr. Enda Buckley - Director of Sustainability, Carbery Group
- Ms. Katie Gleeson - Agri Influencer / Dairy Farmer
- Mr. Michael Malone - Dairy Farmer Sharemilking
15.15 - 15.45
US Trade Discussion
- Mr. Damien O'Reilly - EU Affairs & Communications Manager, ICOS
- Mr. David Salmonsen - Senior Director, Government Affairs, American Farm Bureau Federation
Conference Partner
We would like to thank our Conference Partner, FBD Insurance, our Banquet Sponsor Bord Bia and our main session sponsors Alltech Ireland, Carbery, Bank of Ireland, The Irish Farmers Journal, Dairygold and our many other sponsors, without whom it would not be possible to organise this event.
