University College Dublin (UCD) were the overall winners of the 2020 Dawn Meats Great Agri-Food Debate held in Belfast at the end of February. We asked the winning team members to give us their thoughts on all things agriculture, the challenges and opportunities (outside of COVID-19) and what they learned in preparing for the debates. First up is team captain, fourth year food and agri business management student Úna Sinnott.
About Úna
“Born and raised on a beef, sheep and tillage farm in north Wexford, I am the youngest of six children. My parents, Péig and Mick, have always encouraged and supported my love for agriculture, outdoor living and my passion for sustainable animal and crop production. All going well, I will commence a PhD Walsh Scholarship in 2020 revolving around greenhouse gas emissions and agriculture with a keen focus on knowledge exchange/knowledge transfer. I was also the proud captain of the 2019 Wexford senior camogie team.
Challenge for agriculture
“The ‘disconnect’ between farmers and consumers. The industry is trying but are now only preaching to the converted. Farmer/consumer disconnect needs to be addressed nationally in my view. Shareholders in the agricultural industry need to be at the forefront of this change but I think we need to be more seen and more vocal. But more importantly we need to be more unified in our approach to explaining Irish agriculture and food production.”
University College Dublin (UCD) were the overall winners of the 2020 Great Agri-Food Debate held in Belfast at the end of February. We asked the winning team members to give us their thoughts on all things agriculture, the challenges and opportunities (outside of COVID-19) and what they learned in preparing for the debates. First up is team captain, fourth year Food and Agribusiness Management student Úna Sinnott.
Debating
“Taking part in the debate gave me and my team the platform to discuss relevant agricultural issues on a national stage. It is great to have your opinion and beliefs inside your head but it is much better to get the chance to fight for and discuss these views out loud.”
What did you learn?
1 Debates
“I couldn’t believe the amount of rubbish that we have floating around in our oceans right now. Combined, the north and south great pacific garbage patch is three times the size of France. The biggest landfill on the planet is in the ocean.”
2 Veganisim
“Absolute clarity that animals are needed for good soil management. This was not a surprise to me but it was comforting to confirm certain questions. Through our research, I could see how a flexitarian diet is, without doubt, the best diet for our health, our bodies and our planet. I am a healthy individual and I care a lot about my fitness. The vegan debate clarified that food from animal and dairy products, produced sustainably with a grass based diet, are the foods we should encourage in our societies and homes.”
3 CAP
“Following our research, I think that the next reform of CAP will be positive for European agriculture. I believe we have advanced a lot since previous reforms. Farmers need to be acknowledged for carbon sequestration and their role in protecting the environment and this needs to be reflected in the new CAP.”
Policy
“Policies that encourage farmers to incorporate sustainable management need to be highlighted more. Further development of value added products from farms and a diversity of farm enterprises should be encouraged as well as entrepreneurship and agri tourism in rural areas. I would hope to farm in some manner in the future, perhaps a sheep enterprise, alongside a full time job. I would like to see policy and schemes that would support this aim.”
Opportunities
“I see opportunities for a shorter supply chain in Ireland. People should look out for Irish products and know the story behind what they eat. We are a ‘food island’ and there are opportunities for more local food producers and more social enterprises to be developed. Agroforestry has potential to help farms and businesses to become more sustainable and environmental friendly.
“During my time in Iowa, USA (work experience in 3rd year), I saw the benefit of Community Supported Agriculture in rural areas. There is a lot to be said for eating the produce we grow and produce locally and I feel very passionately about getting people to realise this simple concept more.”
Read more
UCD bring home the bacon in agri debate
Listen: UCD wins Great Agri-food Debate final in Belfast
University College Dublin (UCD) were the overall winners of the 2020 Dawn Meats Great Agri-Food Debate held in Belfast at the end of February. We asked the winning team members to give us their thoughts on all things agriculture, the challenges and opportunities (outside of COVID-19) and what they learned in preparing for the debates. First up is team captain, fourth year food and agri business management student Úna Sinnott.
About Úna
“Born and raised on a beef, sheep and tillage farm in north Wexford, I am the youngest of six children. My parents, Péig and Mick, have always encouraged and supported my love for agriculture, outdoor living and my passion for sustainable animal and crop production. All going well, I will commence a PhD Walsh Scholarship in 2020 revolving around greenhouse gas emissions and agriculture with a keen focus on knowledge exchange/knowledge transfer. I was also the proud captain of the 2019 Wexford senior camogie team.
Challenge for agriculture
“The ‘disconnect’ between farmers and consumers. The industry is trying but are now only preaching to the converted. Farmer/consumer disconnect needs to be addressed nationally in my view. Shareholders in the agricultural industry need to be at the forefront of this change but I think we need to be more seen and more vocal. But more importantly we need to be more unified in our approach to explaining Irish agriculture and food production.”
University College Dublin (UCD) were the overall winners of the 2020 Great Agri-Food Debate held in Belfast at the end of February. We asked the winning team members to give us their thoughts on all things agriculture, the challenges and opportunities (outside of COVID-19) and what they learned in preparing for the debates. First up is team captain, fourth year Food and Agribusiness Management student Úna Sinnott.
Debating
“Taking part in the debate gave me and my team the platform to discuss relevant agricultural issues on a national stage. It is great to have your opinion and beliefs inside your head but it is much better to get the chance to fight for and discuss these views out loud.”
What did you learn?
1 Debates
“I couldn’t believe the amount of rubbish that we have floating around in our oceans right now. Combined, the north and south great pacific garbage patch is three times the size of France. The biggest landfill on the planet is in the ocean.”
2 Veganisim
“Absolute clarity that animals are needed for good soil management. This was not a surprise to me but it was comforting to confirm certain questions. Through our research, I could see how a flexitarian diet is, without doubt, the best diet for our health, our bodies and our planet. I am a healthy individual and I care a lot about my fitness. The vegan debate clarified that food from animal and dairy products, produced sustainably with a grass based diet, are the foods we should encourage in our societies and homes.”
3 CAP
“Following our research, I think that the next reform of CAP will be positive for European agriculture. I believe we have advanced a lot since previous reforms. Farmers need to be acknowledged for carbon sequestration and their role in protecting the environment and this needs to be reflected in the new CAP.”
Policy
“Policies that encourage farmers to incorporate sustainable management need to be highlighted more. Further development of value added products from farms and a diversity of farm enterprises should be encouraged as well as entrepreneurship and agri tourism in rural areas. I would hope to farm in some manner in the future, perhaps a sheep enterprise, alongside a full time job. I would like to see policy and schemes that would support this aim.”
Opportunities
“I see opportunities for a shorter supply chain in Ireland. People should look out for Irish products and know the story behind what they eat. We are a ‘food island’ and there are opportunities for more local food producers and more social enterprises to be developed. Agroforestry has potential to help farms and businesses to become more sustainable and environmental friendly.
“During my time in Iowa, USA (work experience in 3rd year), I saw the benefit of Community Supported Agriculture in rural areas. There is a lot to be said for eating the produce we grow and produce locally and I feel very passionately about getting people to realise this simple concept more.”
Read more
UCD bring home the bacon in agri debate
Listen: UCD wins Great Agri-food Debate final in Belfast
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: