Time: 10 am

Presented by: John Mulhern, Teagasc

John Mulhern, Teagasc will address the new Horticulture apprenticeships that have been recently validated by QQI. Teagasc and the Horticulture sector have collaborated to design new apprenticeship programmes that would be suited to present employees with experience and new applicants to the sector. The new model of “earning and learning” for people in the sector is the re-imagining of tried and tested pathways of training for new entrants that the sector badly needs.

John Mulhern has worked for Teagasc for nearly 30 years largely in the education section and is currently College Principal in the Teagasc Horticultural College in the National Botanic Gardens and Ashtown in Dublin.

Plant Health – Finding Oak Processionary Moth in Ireland

Time: 10.30am

Presented by: Joe McNamara, The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM)

This talk will give an update on the recent findings of OPM in Ireland, action taken by DAFM and future action.

The National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027 and the early-stage Producer Organisation scheme for the amenity sector

Time: 11.15am

Presented by: Tamsen Harward, The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM)

This talk will give an overview on the recently launch National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027 and separately the details of the early-stage Producer Organisation scheme that the amenity sector can avail of.

Greening The City – Emerging Practice

Time: 11.45am

Presented by: Daibhí Mac Domhnaill, a Landscape Architect and Urban Designer with a specialist interest in urban greening, nature-based solutions and future proofing cities for climate change.

In 2009 he founded Áit Urbanism + Landscape, a multi-award-winning landscape architecture practice in The Liberties, Dublin. From 2016-2022 Daibhi was with Cairn Plc., Ireland’s largest house builder and established Cairn as an industry leader in implementing biodiversity friendly designs; advising them to become a Business Supporter of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan and kick-started a Biodiversity NetGain programme, a first for an Irish developer. Daibhí also guest tutors in Nature Based Solutions in University College Dublin.

Plant Health – Finding Oak Processionary Moth in Ireland

Time: 2.00pm

Presented by: Joe McNamara, The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM)

This talk will give an update on the recent findings of OPM in Ireland, action taken by DAFM and future action.

The National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027 and the early-stage Producer Organisation scheme for the amenity sector

Time: 3.15 pm

Presented by: Tamsen Harward, The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM)

This talk will give an overview on the recently launch National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027 and separately the details of the early-stage Producer Organisation scheme that the amenity sector can avail of.