Pavilion 2 – Farm Business Options | 10:30am – 4:45pm

10:30am – 11:55am:-  Steps to successful diversification

Building on your land can be a huge investment. Before you take the plunge and take a new direction with your land, the most important thing is to make sure you have your planning and finances in order. Discover, from the people who’ve done it already, the best ways to approach your new venture. This session, chaired by Mary Ryan, Senior Enterprise Development Officer, Tipperary LEO, will feature the following topics and speakers:

• 10:30am:- Introduction
  Mary Ryan, Senior Enterprise Development Officer, Tipperary LEO
• 10:40am:- Steps to product / idea development
  Aisling Hurley, Founder of ‘The Business Fairy’ – Digital Marketing Agency
• 11:05am:- Patents/ trademarks/ design registration/ copyright, from a sales and marketing perspective
  Liam Birkett, Intellectual Property and Business Development Consultant
• 11:30am:-  Case Study
  Cuilan Loughnane, Owner and Brewer at Whitefield Brewery
• 11:45am:- Q&A

12:00pm – 12:40pm:- Funding and Planning for Business

This session will be chaired by Rose Mary McDonagh, IFA National Chair, IFA Farm Business and Credit and will feature the following topics and speakers:

• 12:00pm:- Leader supporting a new farm business
  Jim Finn, Chair, Irish Leader Development Network
• 12:15pm:- Planning for the Future – an assessment of the Government’s strategy towards planning around diversifications in renewable energy and farm business development. What do planning laws mean for rural businesses?
  Marie Ryan, Senior Executive Planner, Tipperary County Council
• 12:30pm:- Q&A

12:45pm – 1:25pm   |  Bioeconomy

Panel discussion – New Opportunities for Farmers

New opportunities are emerging which turn renewable biological resources and waste streams into new products. A circular bioeconomy is at the heart of the EU’s efforts to slash its carbon emissions while also maintaining economic growth. This session, chaired by Professor Frank O’Mara, Teagasc Director, will look at what the bioeconomy looks like and how we get there. Panellists include:

• James Gaffey, Co-Director of Circular Bio-economy Research Group at Munster Technology University
• Professor Maeve Henchion, Head of Teagasc Agri Food, Business and Spatial Analysis
• DAFM speaker – TBC

1:30pm – 2:10pm | Starting a Food Business

This session features a panel discussion on the key requirements and considerations for anyone planning on starting a new food business / on farm enterprise. The discussion will be chaired by Ciara McDonagh, Head of Food Industry Development, Teagasc and panellists include:

• Elaine O’Donohue, General Manager, BIA Innovator Campus
• Carol Griffin, Food Industry Training Co-ordinator, Teagasc
• FSAI representative
• DAFM representative

2:15pm – 2:55pm | Food Diversification Champions

This session, chaired by Con Traas, Owner and Director, Con Traas Ltd and The Apple Farm will feature practical case studies. Speakers include:

• Veronica Molloy, Owner, Crossogue Preserves
• Breda Maher, Owner, Cooleeney Cheese
• Shannon Forest, Co-Founder and Director of Rívesci Ltd., Clonmel

3:00pm -3:45pm | Agri-Tourism – Revitalising Rural Economies

This session, chaired by Sinead Hennessy, Enterprise Development Officer, Failte Ireland will consist of a panel discussion on Glamping, Camping and Cottage Stays: The rise in the Irish Staycation industry! A panel discussion with experts from across the industry to share top tips and insights on how to set up a unique and profitable business. The panel will use their first-hand experience and market knowledge to inspire you to think outside the box and create something which will last the test of time. Panellists include:

• Fiona Dunne, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands
• Marie Ryan, Senior Executive Planner, Tipperary Co Co
• Marie and Martin Keating, Westport Glamping

3:45pm – 4:45pm | Adventure and Rural Tourism

This session, chaired by Alice Doyle, Chair IFA Farm Family Committee, will focus on Outdoor Events – is this the way forward for diversification?. Topics and speakers include:

• 3:45pm:- How to make your venue stand out from the crowd
  Paddy O’Toole, Ballybeg Wedding Venue
• 4:00pm:- Topic to be confirmed
  Adventure Tourism Ireland – TBC
• 4:15pm:- Topic to be confirmed
  Anne O’Malley, Teagasc Farm Business Options Co-ordinator
• 4:30pm:- Insurance cover for Rural Tourism projects
  TBC
• 4:45pm:- Q&A