I would like to thank you president and your association CONAF for the kind invitation to your National Congress. I am always very pleased to visit Italy. I am very honoured to represent Cedia here today.

Since this is my first visit time to visit your association I would like to introduce myself.
My name is Sean Gaule; I am a graduate in Agricultural Science and Public Sector management from University College Dublin. In my day job I am a Civil Servant attached to the Ministry of Agriculture in Ireland. During my early career I had the opportunity of working for a period with the European Commission in Brussels and during the late 1980’s was Agricultural Counsellor attached Irish Embassy, Rome, one of my duties was that of Permanent representative to FAO.

So I know a little bit your beautiful country and its excellent food and beverages.

For several years I have been involved with ASA, The Agricultural Science Association, in Ireland, serving on its council, and as its President in the 2001/2002 period.

I am now completing my second year as president of Cedia. For those of you not familiar with Cedia –

Cedia is the umbrella organisation for Graduate Associations in Agriculture sciences and Agricultural engineering in Europe. Details may be found on the Cedia website www.cedia.eu.
Cedia was established in Brussels in 1987, its traditional role has been to facilitate cooperation among member associations and to share and exchange views and ideas among its members. More recently it has cooperated with AMIA (World Association of Agronomists) with a view to creating a true world Association of Agronomists.

Over the years a wide range of topics and issues have been addressed by Cedia to include International professional exchanges, Job services and employment, Continuous professional development, Professional qualifications and graduate mobility, A charter for the European Agronomist has also been developed, in addition a number of conferences have been hosted.

The last major such conference was hosted in Leuven in 2009, in cooperation with the European Life Sciences Universities. The conference on that occasion addressed models for successful collaboration and partnerships of purpose between universities, businesses and NGO’s in education, research and innovation.

Job services and career supports are now an important service provided by many associations, Cedia has acted as a facilitator in this process. My own association in Ireland now provide such a service based on a model used by other Cedia members.

In relation to CPD I am pleased to see that Italy is among ONE OF the first Countries to include Continuous professional development as a legal requirement for its Agricultural profession as part of the registration process.

The employment situation for our members is now a cause for concern in a number of European countries this was discussed at a Cedia meeting earlier this year in Berlin and will again be discussed next week at our meeting in Brussels.

Since taking over the presidency of Cedia, one of my main objectives has been to promote the role, status and influence of our profession at a political level, particularly in Brussels.

As you are well aware members of our profession are involved across the entire spectrum of the agricultural Industry, covering government Ministries, research, advisory, extension, education, training, agribusiness, rural organisations and the media,

Developments in relation to Agricultural policy, the future of Agriculture, food security, food safety, higher agricultural education and research, rural development and the environment are all of key interest to our members

The views of professionals and their associations who have, made their careers in the sector, and who have contributed in a substantial way in the development of the Agri-food sector in Europe, have I believe, to be recognised and acknowledged in Brussels in the policy formulation process. The is an aim which I have being progressing successfully over the past few years.

The Cedia event organised for later next week in Brussels will again present Cedia members with the opportunity of exchanging views on important topics with representatives from both the commission and parliament and again present us with an opportunity of further enhancing our professional status.

I would now like to make a few general comments on the current agricultural situation.

While there is a difficult economic situation in many European countries I believe there is now a realisation of the potential of agriculture to contribute to economic growth.
The Agri-food sector can make significant contributions to European Economic recovery. Strong recoveries have taken place in milk and grain prices.

Many food companies are reporting good growth and profits and optimism for the future.
The long-term outlook in terms of global demand is very positive for efficient producers and processors.

Challenges.

1) CAP reform will lead to a less favourable situation for farmers in some countries.

George Lyon of the Agricultural Committee of the European Parliament and chairman of a committee which recently reported on CAP, in addressing the Agricultural Science Association in Ireland (10TH Sept 2010) stated:

• There is pressure from EU finance Ministers for EU budgetary cuts
• There is pressure from those who wished to see cuts in the CAP and the money spent elsewhere e.g economic recovery through job creation, climate change etc
• There is demand from new member states for a greater share of the cake when distributing direct payments.
• In relation to the latter he predicted a move an area based flat rate system which would result in substantial losers and winners

In addition to CAP there are other important issues:

2) Significant environmental issues that are challenging both existing production and future expansion

3) Farmers will face increased volatility in Price

4) Exporters will face currency fluctuation and economic uncertainty in international markets.

Opportunities

Where there are challenges there are opportunities

• There is public support the European model of agriculture, for secure and safe food supplies, as well as the associated public goods related to the environment, animal welfare, sustainable production systems and agricultural research
• Growth will be based on returns from the market place and in improved efficiencies and competitiveness
• Farmers will need to adopt to the most efficient available methods
• Processors will have to invest in new high value product development, paying greater attention to nutrition, hygiene and health aspects of food and food production
• Regulators must protect the European image of sustainable production, to include food safety, labelling, and animal welfare
• Supply chain management must include fairness and equity
• There must also be fairness and equity in international trading systems.

Agricultural Scientists and engineers will be central to the delivery of the agriculture of the future where sustainability, fairness and greenness will be key priorities.

The topics, which you have chosen for your conference, are very appropriate and very relevant; I wish you well in your deliberations over the next few days.