IDF National Committee of Ireland Ltd

Full House for IDF WORLD DAIRY SUMMIT in DUBLIN

Embargo: 6.00pm Sunday, 30 September 2007.

Over 900 delegates from more than 50 countries, are arriving in Dublin this weekend to attend the International Dairy Federation's World Dairy Summit at the Burlington Hotel, which runs from Monday, 1st - Thursday, 4th October.

Chairman of the organising committee, Dr Noel Cawley said;" The recent pace of change in international dairy markets has surprised many in the industry. But it is not surprising, given the impressive line of speakers for this year's IDF World Dairy Summit, that many of the leading players in the industry are coming to Dublin to meet and hear the views of their colleagues from around the world. "

IDF Summits take place annually in different member countries and provide delegates with an overview of current world market experiences. A variety of symposia enable representatives of national expert committees to meet and update progress in their respective fields. It is opportune that this major international dairy summit will take place in Ireland where milk production is so important to Irish agriculture.

Speaking in Dublin, Dr Cawley said: "Milk production and dairy farming is extremely important in Ireland. Located on the western shores of Europe, milk production has been the most profitable farming enterprise in Ireland and continues to provide the base for Irish dairy co-ops to market and sell Irish dairy products all over the world. This summit offers a timely opportunity to hear what's new in the industry, in the markets and in dairy science around the world."

The Summit, entitled "Dairying - can it manage change?", will be officially opened by Uachtarán na hÉireann, Mrs Mary McAleese. Following the opening ceremony, with its specially commissioned Irish musical performance, the keynote address for the Summit will be given by the Mary Coughlan T.D., Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

The Dairy Leaders Forum, on Monday afternoon, promises to provide interesting insights from some of the world's most authoritative dairy leaders on issues facing global dairying and food production. The panel will be made up of Rick Smith of Dairy Farmers of America's Co-operative, Fonterra; New Zealand's, Andrew Ferrier; Irish Dairy Board's CEO Noel Coakley; and Justin Sanders of Holland's giant cooperative, Campina.

Other sessions taking place during the week include:

2 Oct. - Dairy Policy and Economics; Dairy Science and Technology; Functional Foods.
3 Oct. - Milk Production and Farm Management; Nutrition & Health, Marketing, Nutrimarketing.
4 Oct. - Dairy Research and Development, Current R & D in Future Technologies,
Nutrition and Health, Environment & Food Quality Forum.