South East Technological University (SETU) emerged as the winners of the 8th Annual Great Agri-Food Debate, defeating University College Cork in the final. The event featured eight teams from Ireland and the UK, including industry groups and teams from Wales and Northern Ireland. The preliminary rounds of debates took place virtually, as they did in 2022, allowing for wider participation. This year marked the first time the event was held in a hybrid format, with the final held in-person at Butchers’ Hall in London on March 28th. The motion for the final debate was “The solution to negative consumer perceptions of red meat is more honest communication,” and SETU opposed it. In addition to the final debate, a range of representatives from the agrifood industry and beyond judged the event, including representatives from McDonald’s UK and Ireland, Dawn Meats, and the Food Standards Agency.
South East Technological University (SETU) emerged victorious in the 8th Annual Great Agri-Food Debate, organised by Dawn Meats and McDonald’s, defeating University College Cork in the final. The competition featured eight teams from Ireland and the UK, including industry groups and teams from Wales and Northern Ireland. The final took place in-person at Butchers’ Hall in London on March 28th, with the preliminary rounds held virtually.
The motion for the final debate was “The solution to negative consumer perceptions of red meat is more honest communication,” and SETU opposed it. The win made it three in a row for SETU, who had previously won the competition in 2021 and 2022 as Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) before amalgamating with IT Carlow to form SETU in May 2022. WIT was also the winner of the Great Agri-Food Debate in 2021 and 2022 and 2019.
In addition to UCC and SETU, the preliminary rounds featured College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT), Munster Technological University (MTU), PYF – a team of placement year students from McDonald’s Progressive Young Farmers program, University College Dublin (UCD), and Aberystwyth University, who made a welcome return after their debut in 2021.
Barry Stratford from UCC won the Best Speaker award. The final was judged by representatives from the agrifood industry and beyond, including Harriet Wilson from McDonald’s UK and Ireland, Niall Browne CEO of Dawn Meats and Dunbia, Junior Johnson from the Food Standards Agency, Siobhan Barnes from Whitbread, and Nick Allen CEO of the British Meat Processors Association.
The use of virtual and in-person debates allowed wider participation and was the first time the event was held in a hybrid format.
Niall Browne, CEO of Dawn Meats, praised the standard of debating from the students in this year’s Great Agri-Food Debate and congratulated the winning team. The event featured new and complex motions that deserve attention from the industry, and Browne expressed optimism about the future of Irish and British agriculture. Harriet Wilson, agriculture and sustainable sourcing manager for McDonald’s UK and Ireland, also commended the participants, including the Progressive Young Farmers, for their insights and views on important topics and congratulated Southeast Technological University on their win. The Great Agri-Food Debate fosters thoughtful discussions and engages the next generation to futureproof the agriculture industry.
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