The Role of Co-operatives in Improving Producer Influence in the Global Food Supply Chain; That’s the theme for this year’s ICOS National Conference, to be held on Wednesday, October 29^th in the Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise.  The Conference will examine the challenges facing producers in the global food supply chain, and investigate the role of co-operatives in strengthening the hand of farmer members.

The Conference will be opened by Agriculture Minister, Simon Coveney, and the opening paper will be delivered by Alan Renwick, Professor of Agricultural and Food Economics in UCD, who will set out the evolution of the global food supply chain, and the weakening position of farmers. The two following speakers will look at the challenge from both a dairy and livestock perspective. Professor Mike Boland, from the University of Minnesota will examine the approaches adopted by US Dairy Co-operatives to competing in global markets, while Mr Norman Bagley from the UK Association of Independent Meat Suppliers will explain how his members have created a space for themselves amidst the retail giants in Britain.

The afternoon will feature three workshops addressing the specific issues of the dairy, livestock and artisan sectors.  The dairy workshop will be addressed by Veronique Pilat, Chief Economist for CNIEL; the French Dairy Industry umbrella body. She will set out the recent and ongoing trends in the evolution of the world dairy industry, and the workshop will examine how Irish farmers and their co-ops can keep pace and protect their co-op ethos. The Livestock workshop will examine the threats and opportunities posed by impending Producer Organisation legislation for the Beef Sector. The third workshop will explore the possibility for using the co-op model to strengthen the Artisan Food Supply Chain.

The afternoon session will also feature the formal launch of the Plunkett Institute for Co-operative Governance. This is an ICOS initiative aimed at identifying, recognising and promoting good governance in co-operatives. The Institute will work with co-op directors to improve their skills and experience, to provide training, and to communicate to all stakeholders the importance of the role of co-op director. It is important to remember that ordinary farmers, when elected to their co-op boards, are responsible for providing strategic direction and sound decision-making for multi-billion euro companies. It is vital that they are adequately prepared for that task, and the Plunkett Institute will work with all levels of farmers, from new entrants, to regional committee members, to experienced Directors, to ensure that the industry is well served with sound, educated, experienced decision makers.