SETU introduced as winner of Nice Agri-Meals Debate

South East Technological College (SETU) has been declared the winner of the eighth annual Nice Agri-Meals debate, organised by Daybreak Meats and McDonald’s.

SETU defeated College School Cork (UCC) within the ultimate, having opposed the movement that ‘The answer to detrimental shopper perceptions of purple meat is extra trustworthy communication‘.

Eight groups from throughout Eire and the UK – seven third-level establishments and one business grouping – entered the competitors this yr together with groups from Wales and Northern Eire.

The ultimate was held in individual yesterday (March 28), at Butchers Corridor in London.

Nice Agri-Meals Debate

In defeating UCC within the ultimate, SETU made it three wins in a row following successes in 2021 and 2022.

SETU was established in Could 2022, but it surely was shaped by way of the amalgamation of IT Carlow and Waterford Institute of Expertise (WIT).

WIT was the winner of the Nice Agri-Meals Debate in 2021 and 2022; the school additionally received in 2019.

Aberystwyth College made a return after its debut in 2021 as did final yr’s newcomer, Munster Technological College (MTU) and PYF – a group of placement-year college students from McDonald’s Progressive Younger Farmers programme.

These relative newcomers have been joined by School of Agriculture, Meals and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE); Dundalk Institute of Expertise (DkIT); UCC; College School Dublin (UCD); and SETU.

The preliminary spherical of debates happened nearly, as they did in 2022, with this enabling wider participation within the contest.

This yr is the primary time the occasion concerned a hybrid of each on-line and in-person debates.

Commenting after the talk, Niall Browne, CEO Daybreak Meats stated: “Yearly at this debate, there are new and sophisticated motions that deserve the eye of our business.

“We witnessed some well-accomplished debating from a robust cohort of scholars whose insights, intelligence and enthusiasm make me actually optimistic about the way forward for Irish and British agriculture.

“Hearty congratulations to the successful group, and my due to our companions McDonald’s and all of the individuals and judges and for making this occasion so successful.”

Harriet Wilson, agriculture and sustainable sourcing supervisor for McDonald’s UK and Eire added: “The Nice Agri-Meals Debate at all times sparks considerate discussions, and this yr was no completely different.

“We all know that with a view to futureproof the agriculture business, we should interact the following technology, so it’s been actually inspiring to listen to the views from our Progressive Younger Farmers and all college students concerned, on these vital matters.”

Finest Speaker was awarded to Barry Stratford from UCC.

The ultimate was judged by a spread of representatives from the agri-food business and past, together with Harriet Wilson, agriculture and sustainable sourcing at McDonald’s UK and Eire; Niall Browne, CEO Daybreak Meats and Dunbia; Junior Johnson, director of Operations Meals Requirements Company; Siobhan Barnes, senior procurement supervisor, agriculture and aquaculture Whitbread; and Nick Allen, CEO of British Meat Processors’ Affiliation.