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The Guild of Agricultural Journalists of Ireland (GAJI) hosted their AGM today in Newry. The event followed a farm visit earlier in the day to the Acton farm of John and Simon Best.
Matt O'Keefe from County Kilkenny was elected GAJI President, replacing outgoing President Richard Halleron. Also present were the newly elected Chairperson of the GAJI northern section, Rebecca McConnell and GAJI southern section Chairperson, Stella Meehan.
Outgoing GAJI President, Richard Halleron found the farm visit insightful. Halleron said "We have had our annual farm visit and all Ireland annual meeting today. The farm visit was hosted by the Best family, John and his son Simon at Acton House.
"It was a tremendously insightful visit, we got a sense of the crops that are grown at the farm and the committment of the Best family to the highest environmental production and standards. Also present today was Professor John Gilliland, Chairman, ARC Zero Programme and John provided us with an insight into that programme, and how it is helping to evolve the strategies that will be put in place to allow agriculture in Northern Ireland to confront the challenge of climate change."
Speaking to Guild members at the event Trevor Lockhart, CEO, Fane Valley said "We rely heavily from an industry point of view on the work that you do to inform and disseminate knowledge transfer, to report and indeed challenge policy and regulation. Collectively you play a vital role in the development and advancement of the Northern Ireland and indeed the Ireland agri food industry."
Lunch in the Canal Court Hotel was kindly sponsored by Fane Valley.
