Transition students encouraged to investigate agribusiness sector

THE farming and food educational body Agri Aware is challenging transition year students nationwide to investigate the importance of agribusiness in their local communities.

Local Business Buzz, launched yesterday in conjunction with AIB, encourages students to develop communication, research and teamwork skills. The project involves interviewing local agribusinesses, researching and identifying the contribution that agribusiness makes to the local community, radio script-writing and recording and the submission of these tasks in a written project.

Agri Aware chairman Mairéad Lavery said Irish agribusiness is a dynamic, technologically advanced and innovative industry.

“It is vital our youth gain an appreciation of how the industry contributes to the growth and development of their local areas,” she said.

Ms Lavery said Local Business Buzz will give the student a broad outlook on business, from ground level to senior management.

“The initiative is a great way for the students to develop their skills and get a taste of what the business world is really like,” she said.

AIB Head of Youth Strategy David Rath said the project will be a significant resource in helping students better understand several transition year subjects as well as highlighting the key role that agri-business plays in Irish communities.

Eight winning students will get an all expenses paid trip to Brussels for Europe Day and a guided tour of the European Commission.

The tour will allow them to interact with all the different departments and people, giving them a behind the scenes view of how the European Commission works. The national winning group will also get an exclusive profile on local radio for the duration of one week.

Local Business Buzz is linked to transition year subjects such as enterprise and business, environmental and social studies, practical studies and social development.