National Organic Training Skillnet (NOTS) has confirmed the return of its seventh annual biological farming conference, BioFarm 2024.
Hailed as the premier event in the organic and biological farming calendar, the conference will take place over two full days on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 5 and 6, in Fitzgerald’s Woodlands House Hotel, Adare, Co. Limerick.
Over the two days, renowned Irish and international speakers will present to delegates from mixed farming backgrounds including conventional, organic, and regenerative.
The conference will focus on a wide range of topics in biological, organic and regenerative farming, and the speakers will explore a number of key issues facing the farming sector, including climate change; carbon sequestration; rising input costs; and farm profitability.
Speakers confirmed include both the UK and Ireland’s soil farmers of the year, with Stuart Johnson representing the UK, and Tipperary’s Tommy Tierney flying the Irish flag.
Sean McGloin, network manager at NOTS, said they are packing both days with quality speakers from both the academic fields, as well as working farmers from Ireland and further afield.
“We will cover as many aspects of biological, regenerative, and organic farming as we can as well as looking at key market opportunities,” he outlined.
“We see these practices as central to the future of farming in Ireland, and hopefully we can inspire farmers to get on board with these methods.
“Everything is on the table in agriculture at the moment, especially from a climate change mitigation standpoint. The experts, academics, and farmers at BioFarm 2024 are at the forefront of this thinking,” McGloin said.
The event will feature live in-person presentations from leading industry experts, roundtable panel discussions, and interactive question and answer sessions where participants can engage directly with the speakers.
“BioFarm has garnered a reputation for attracting a ‘who’s-who’ of organic and biological agriculture with academic and research professionals being backed up by real-life farmers who are walking the walk”, McGloin contended.
“It’s a good time of year for farmers to take a day or two off and hear from some of the most innovative people we have in the sector who can impart their knowledge and skills in order to showcase and progress farming methods that are key to climate change mitigation.
“Also we will have at least 15 minutes at the end of each presentation where delegates can ask questions, and there will be trade stands at the conference,” he said.
For more information about the event, call NOTS on 071 9640688.