Farmers and Landowners

Agri-Vision for Bio-Energy 2007 is the first national conference of its type. The conference aims to give you the answers to the questions above and provide you with a platform to raise issues and concerns of your own.

The conference also provides an opportunity to hear from practitioners and learn about the possibilities of local economy development. Biofuels will create demand for locally sourced raw materials and products. The complexities of biofuel supply chains will be explored giving examples for both local authority and private investment.

Ms Mary Wallace, TD

Appointed Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food on 14 February, 2006. She was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform with special responsibility for Equality and Disabilities from July 1997 - June 2002.

Mr Martin Finucane, DCMNR, Head of Renewables Section

Martin is Principal Officer in charge of the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Division in the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. He is responsible for the development and promotion of renewable energy policy and energy efficiency policy in Ireland.

Mr Bernard Rice, Teagasc

Bernard Rice is a Principal Research Officer with Teagasc at Oak Park, where he manages the Teagasc biofuels programme. This currently includes work on liquid biofuel quality, combustion of various biomass materials including wood residues, miscanthus and straw, production of fuel pellets from biomass, and the use of energy crop sites for effluent disposal.

Sir Ben Gill CBE MA (Cantab)

Ben runs his own business – Hawkhills Consultancy Ltd., which specialises in advising agri-food businesses on food and farming and also on renewable energy where he has a particular interest and expertise in the use of biomass.

Ben was President of the NFU from 1998 to 2004. He was also President of the Confederation of European Agriculture from 2000 – 2004 which saw the enlargement of the EU from 15 to 25 countries. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the world body: International Federation of Agricultural Producers.

Mr Raymond O’Malley

Raymond is a beef and cereal farmer from Ardee, County Louth. He is co-founder and chairman of Biogreen and also co-founder and chairman of Tradeway Direct. He is a former president of the EU Beef and Veal Advisory Group and steered policies to restore EU beef consumption. He was chairman of the IFA Livestock Committee during the Agenda 2000 negotiations and the restoration of EU live exports. Raymond is a former Ulster/North Leinster IFA vice president and was chairman of Louth IFA during the foot and mouth crisis of 2001.

Mr Barry Caslin, Teagasc

Since 2006 Barry is based at Oak Park, Carlow where he is responsible for advancing Teagasc's role in the renewable energy sector. He has a BAgrSc from UCD and holds an MSc in Environmental Science. He is a former Vice President of Macra na Feirme North West. Prior to his appointment at Oak Park he worked in the Teagasc advisory service.

Dr Malcolm Dawson

Malcolm graduated in Horticulture from Reading University in 1968 and worked with the then Ministry of Agriculture at the Horticulture and Plant Breeding Station at Loughgall. In the mid-Seventies work was initiated on SRC Willow as an alternative energy source and up to his retirement Malcolm focused on the agronomic aspects of the crop, with particular focus on disease control and the use of the crop as a bioremediation system.

Dr Nuala Ní Fhlatharta, Teagasc

Nuala is Head of Teagasc Forestry Development Unit and is based at Athenry. She graduated from UCD with BAgrSc forestry degree. Nuala’s PhD focused on the productivity of poplar and willow clones for biomass production.

Previous to her appointment as head of the forestry unit Nuala worked as a forestry adviser in the western counties and previous to this worked in the private forestry and nursery sectors.

Ms Lucy Hodsman

Lucy Hodsman, National Non-Food Crops Centre Lucy joined the NNFCC in October 2004 from CSL's Agricultural and Rural Strategy Group. Lucy has several years experience in crop production and practical agriculture. In addition to co-ordinating NNFCC presentations and presence at external events, Lucy offers practical advice on cropping options and opportunities for adding value on-farm. Lucy is also responsible for NNFCC project work and has published several reports since joining the organisation.

Mr Jim O’Mahony, Teagasc

Jim is Teagasc Programme Manager for Tillage Crops and Renewable Energy. He is a graduate of UCD qualifying with a Masters in Plant Breeding in 1975. Following his graduation Jim worked with the Department of Agriculture and Food on variety testing on crops. He joined Acot as a crops specialist, followed by his appointment as Chief Adviser in Tillage. Jim was appointed to his current post of Programme Manager in 2004.