The year 2018 sees Dundalk Institute of Technology, UCD, Waterford Institute of Technology, Cork Institute of Technology and University College Cork battle it out for the Great Agri-Food Debate crown.

A testimony to the success of the first two years of this competition is the expansion it is seeing in its third. Originally UCD in year one, then WIT and UCD in year two, while year three sees five colleges competing – cementing its coming of age as somewhat of an inter-college institution.

Hosted this year by WIT, last year’s winner UCD will be hoping to regain its crown, with the competition expected to be high between colleges.

Dawn Meat and McDonald’s are once again sponsoring the event, with the 12-person judging panel including Bord Bia CEO Tara McCarthy and Dawn Meats Niall Browne. Once again the Irish Farmers Journal’s Justin McCarthy will host the event.

Tracey Donaghey profiles staff and students from the five universities taking part.

Karen Keaveney

University College Dublin (UCD)

Assistant professor, chair of Student Engagement Committee

UCD finalised its team on Wednesday, after enduring the final round of heats and the collaboration between staff and students is a highlight for Karen.

“It was very competitive, the strongest competitors had a good mix between content and performance,” says Karen.

“It is lovely to do something in partnership with the students. There has been a great buzz in the school and we are delighted to be travelling to Waterford.

“The competition has heightened and we do have a bit of pressure on us because we won last year, but we don’t know much about the other teams so anything could happen.”

Aoife Forde

Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) | Ag science student, captain of the debate team

Final-year student Aoife is delighted that the Great Agri-Food Debate is taking place on home soil.

“It is a great honour for WIT to be hosting the event. We will have home support, but at the end of the day it is about the debate, the topics and how we tackle them,” says Aoife. “We have a great team and are having a bit of craic while we’re doing it. We don’t really have any team tactics. We will prepare our topics well and take it as it comes.”

Last year WIT was narrowly beaten by UCD in the final, but it is conscious of all the competition.

“No matter who we meet, we will give it our best shot in the hope of winning.”

John McNulty

Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT) | Agriculture student, member of the debate team

Team ethos is key for DKIT as the team puts their heads together for the final preparations.

“We have been researching as a team and are working well together. There is one girl from my class and the others are a year above, so I wouldn’t have known them too well beforehand,” says John. “We have different backgrounds and strengths, each of us brings something different to the table.”

John, who is in his third year of studies, admits that he is feeling anxious ahead of the debate.

“It’s the first time that I have done anything like this. I am a bit nervous, but hopefully once I get going the nerves will disappear,” says John. “We have been thrown into the deep end as we are up against last year’s champions UCD, but fingers crossed we will do well.”

Dr Aoife McCarthy

Cork Institute of technology (CIT)

Course director and lecturer of

nutrition and health science

Aoife was the instigator behind CIT’s debate team, after being contacted by David O’Flynn from Dawn Meats, and while they are confident, they are not complacent.

“We are confident in our preparations, but it is difficult to know what to expect as this is our first time taking part in the event. It has been a great experience for students to push themselves outside their comfort zone and acquire the confidence to speak in front of an audience of peers and lecturers,” explains Aoife.

“Their communication and inter-personal skills have developed over the past number of weeks, and it is a fantastic opportunity for students to showcase themselves to industry representatives.”

Eve Coleman

University College Cork (UCC)

Food marketing and entrepreneurship student, member of debate team

At UCC everyone was keen to lend a hand to their debating team, who are a female force in the competition.

“Faculties in UCC have been giving us a huge amount of help between law, food business, food science and the philosophical society. They have been teaching us the best ways to debate and prepare an argument,” says Eve.

“Our team is made up of women, each of us have a very competitive streak. We are mixing the roles so I might research for one debate and speak for another. That way you get to experience both aspects.”

In her final year of study, Eve has her sights set on a career in the food industry and this experience will be valuable.

“I did my work experience in Dunnes Stores head office and that cemented it for me,” says Aoife.

“It will be great to meet the judges and learn how they got to where they are today.” CL