Forum to highlight role of agriculture

A MAJOR economic forum of Irish farming and food industry leaders will be held at the RDS in Dublin next month.

Organised by the Irish Farmers Association, it will bring together hundreds of businesses depending on primary producers to highlight the importance of the sector, its potential to drive exports and jobs.

IFA president Padraig Walshe said yesterday Irish farmers are among the best and most efficient in the world and are ready and able to drive sustainable increases in production to meet the growing world food demand.

“What they need at home is an environment that supports primary production and recognises the valuable role it plays in providing raw material for our largest indigenous industry,” he said.

Mr Walshe said the forum, Harnessing Farming, Food and the Green Economy — a Smart Route to Recovery, will take place at a time when the industry and the economy are experiencing the worst economic crisis in a generation.

“With the right policies from Government, farming and food, and sectors closely related to the countryside including tourism and green energy have huge potential to help lead the recovery of the Irish economy,” he said.

Mr Walshe said the objective of the forum is to chart a course for growth and recovery by identifying the blend of Government and other policies that will ensure that farm families will remain in a position to contribute to the extra exports and jobs essential to the upturn of economy.

Industry leaders who will address the gathering include Owen Killian, chief executive, Aryzta; Stan McCarthy, chief executive, Kerry Group; John Moloney, group managing director, Glanbia; John Horgan, chairman and managing director, Kepak Group; Peter Queally, chairman, Queally Group; Andrew Langford, chief executive, FBD; Dan McSweeney, chief executive Carbery Group, and Gavin Duffy from the TV programme, Dragons Den.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister Brendan Smith will give the response address at the forum on November 3.