Agri-food firms can aim even higher

The Agricultural Science Association (ASA) hosted its annual conference in Kilkenny last week and in so doing underlined the energy that exists within Ireland’s agri-food industry.

Over 600 delegates attended the event, drawn from all parts of the sector including primary producers, processors, marketing companies and service providers.

Along with optimism about the industry’s prospects as an engine of growth for the Irish economy, there were also some reality checks about the current state of global agriculture and, in particular, reference to the weakness pervading many commodity markets.