'Focus On Food' Conference To Take Place In Belfast

Belfast City Council is to place the 'Focus On Food’'at a major one-day conference, which will help further drive the city's culinary renaissance.

The conference - organised with support from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), through its Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme, and Tourism NI – will take place at St George's Market on Tuesday 23 February. The keynote speaker will be top chef and food writer Valentine Warner.

"The aim of the 'Focus On Food: Our Recipe For Tourism Success' conference is to see what more can be done to maximize the economic benefit of food tourism, not only for Belfast, but the region as a whole," explained Councillor Deirdre Hargey, Chair of Belfast City Council's City Growth and Regeneration Committee.

"It will look at the long term development of food tourism in the city, and is designed to promote Belfast’s food tourism message; inspire the industry to collaborate and create new visitor experiences; engage producers, farmers, fishermen, chefs and outlets to better promote the food message to visitors; encourage the use of local produce and enable those in the industry to share experiences, challenges and opportunities.

"Last year's conference was a huge success, with a key message being the desire for more events which allow the industry to network and collaborate. Delegates all agreed that that the conference helped to maximise the food tourism potential of Belfast and the region, with three-quarters of them saying that they made new partnerships and business contacts as a result of attending the event. A number of emerging themes and recommended actions were identified, and the council has taken these on board over the last year."