The Agricultural Science Association (ASA) has unveiled additional high profile speakers to address its annual conference, which takes place in the Killashee House Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare on Friday September 8, 2017.

These include: Ambassador Darci Vetter, former chief agricultural negotiator for the US Trade Representative under the Obama administration; Professor Nicola Shadbolt, Director of Fonterra Cooperative and Professor of Farm and Agribusiness Management at Massey University, New Zealand; and Aidan O’Driscoll, Secretary General at the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine.

Serving from 2014 until January 2017 as Chief Agricultural Negotiator at the Office of the US Trade Representative, Ambassador Darci Vetter was responsible for bilateral and multilateral negotiations, such as the Trans Pacific Partnership agricultural package, and major bilateral negotiations with Japan, China, Brazil and other countries.

Ambassador Vetter, who is now a strategic consultant working on international trade, food and agriculture issues, will provide insights and recommendations for how the Irish agri-food industry can compete in the ever-changing global trading environment.

Prof. Nicola Shadbolt, Director of Fonterra Cooperative will join with Frans Keurentjes, Chairman, Friesland Campina to discuss the outlook for the international dairy industry. Prof. Shadbolt will also discuss her research interests including the management and strategies of cooperatives, ownership structures in farming, investment and risk analysis and overall strategic management by farmers, according to the ASA.

The conference will be opened by Phil Hogan, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development.

It will explore Ireland’s global agri-food ambition and will include an executive chair interview with Jim Bergin, CEO, Glanbia.

An impressive group of speakers and panellists has been assembled, including: Aidan O’Driscoll, Secretary General at the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine; Tara McCarthy, CEO of Bord Bia; Niall Browne, CEO, Dawn Meats; and Rowena Dwyer, Chief Economist, IFA (Irish Farmers’ Association). These will discuss the challenges and opportunities currently in the industry in developing export markets.

Meanwhile, immediate priorities for Irish farmers and agri-food businesses will be addressed by Joe Healy, President of the IFA, Pat Dillon, Head of Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Programme, Teagasc and Richard Kennedy, CEO, Devenish.

Mary Delaney, ASA President spoke about the upcoming conference, saying: “In this time of immense change in the global trading environment, the ASA is delighted to be able to provide a platform to share and discuss a range of insights and perspectives on what the Irish agri-food industry can do to enhance our prospects on the international market.

With a mixture of Irish and international experts from differing backgrounds, we hope to capture as broad a view as possible on what we as an industry can do to survive and thrive into the future.

The conference, under the heading ‘The Future of Agri-food’ is sponsored by FBD Insurance and will celebrate 75 years of the ASA.

The ASA President’s Banquet will take place on the eve of the conference on Thursday September 7 in the Killashee House Hotel, Naas.

This black-tie event is now considered to be the largest and most important networking opportunity of the year for those working in sectors allied to agricultural science, according to the association, attracting industry leaders and senior executives from right across the Irish agricultural and food industry.