National Organic Conference - Thursday September 4th 2008 - Waterford

News | 30 Apr 2008

National Organic Food Conference 2008

Maximising Ireland’s Potential

Thursday 4th September 2008

Waterford Institute of Technology

Bord Bia, in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food (DAFF), will host the National Organic Food Conference (NOFC) in Waterford on Thursday September 4th 2008. This event will take place at the Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) and has been planned to coincide with the gathering day of the Terra Madre event in Waterford (4-7th September). 

The conference is targeted at existing and potential producers and processors of Irish organic food as well as stakeholders in the organic sector. It is anticipated that the conference will be attended by in excess of 250 delegates.

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Themed ‘Maximising Ireland’s Potential’, this event will address scenarios for the future of the Irish organic food sector and will consider changing consumer behaviours and attitudes to the organic market both in Ireland and in Britain. During the conference, leading players from the retail sector in Ireland and overseas will present the initiatives they are undertaking to drive sales and grow share within this sector and will discuss the opportunities for Irish suppliers to further grow their presence within this market. A number of case studies featuring manufacturers and producers will provide the perspective from the supply base and will discuss both the challenges and opportunities in converting to organic.

Bord Bia will use this event to present original consumer research which aims to understand current Irish consumer behaviours and attitudes towards the purchase of organic food and the impact that growing competition for the ‘ethical euro’ has on the development of the Irish organic market.

In addition, this event offers a valuable opportunity to network and discuss industry issues with peers and colleagues and to explore opportunities with suppliers in Ireland.

The agenda for the event is available from Karen Devereux - .

Speakers for the event include:

* Welcome and Introduction - Aidan Cotter, Bord Bia.
* Overview and Comparision of Key European Organic Food Markets - Jonathan Banks, Business Insight Director AC Nielsen
* How Modern Irish Consumers View Organic Food - L Bourke, Bord Bia
* From Niche to Mainstream - The growth of organics within Asda - Caroline Burgess, Asda
* Organic supply through retail and alternative routes to market - Panel discussion
* Initiatives to develop the organic sector in Ireland - Tony Reid, Asst Principal Officer, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food
* Converting to organic - a grower perspective - P Fahy
* Converting to organic - a processor perspective - John Purcell, Managing Director Good Herdsmen Ltd
* Maximising opportunites in organics in domestic and export markets - Hugh O’Brien, Commercial Director Lir Chocolates
* Organic Milk is Cream of the Crop - Professor Carlo Leifert, Co-ordinator of EU Integrated Project -Quality Low Input Food - and Head of Nafferton Ecological Farming Group at Newcastle University
* Overview of the German Organic Food and Drink Market - Professor Ulrich Hamm, Agricultural & Food Marketing Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences, University of Kassel
* EU Organic Promotional Campaign - Mr Stefano Cinti, Policy Officer in the Organic & Farming Unit EU Commission
* Carlo Petrini - Founder of the Slow Food Movement
* Conference Summary & Closing - Mr Trevor Sargent T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, with responsibility for Food and Horticulture. 

The cost to attend this event is €50 per delegate. To register please contact Karen Devereux on

The attendance fee covers the cost of conference attendance; conference documentation plus lunch & refreshments.

http://www.bordbiavantage.ie