An End to the Milk Quota System

Introduced in 1984, the milk quota system has greatly influenced the development of the Irish dairy sector and Irish agriculture generally over the last 30 years. On April 1st 2015 the system of supply control in the dairy sector will be no more.

To mark the end of the EU milk quota system, Teagasc in conjunction with the Irish Cooperative Organisation Society (ICOS) will host a half day conference which will look forward to the potential this major policy change can offer the Irish economy.

The event will place specific emphasis on exploring the contribution which dairy expansion can make to the Irish economy generally and the rural economy in particular. The conference will also reflect on the experience of the milk quota era and examine the growth potential that exists for milk production in Ireland and across the EU.

The Conference will take place on April 1^st in Citywest Hotel, Saggart, Co Dublin, commencing at 2:30pm.

Who Should Attend?

This event will benefit a wide audience of agri-food industry stakeholders, including farm and food processing industry representatives, agri-input and service suppliers, policy makers and the wider business community.

How to Register

There is no fee for this event, but advance registration is required due to limited capacity.

Online registration is available by clicking on the register button https://ti.to/https://ti.to/teagasc/dairyeconomics and then entering your details.

 

Conference Programme

2:30 Registration : Tea & Coffee

3:00 Welcome Prof. Gerry Boyle, Teagasc

Opening Address: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Mr. Simon Coveney TD

Session 1, Chair: Martin Keane (President, ICOS)

The End of the Quota Era: Taking Stock and Looking Forward –Thia Hennessy (Teagasc)

The Dairy Sector: A Wider Economy Perspective Nationally and Internationally –

Trevor Donnellan (Teagasc)

Building Capacity and Sustainable Innovation in the Irish Diary Industry – Michael Cantwell (Enterprise Ireland)

Session 2, Chair: Damien O Reilly (RTE)

The Local Impact of Dairy Expansion – Michael Keane (UCC) & Declan O’ Connor (CIT)

Round Table:

Sean O Leary (IFA), Pat McCormack (ICMSA), Peter Byrne (CEO Farm Relief Services), Colm Eustace (CEO Glanbia Agribusiness) & Jim White (farmer)

5:45 Refreshments & Networking Opportunity