The north-east will in September host the biggest inward mission of agricultural journalists, broadcasters and communication specialists that the UK has ever seen.
Between 180 and 220 are expected in Aberdeen for the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists’ annual congress, being held at the Aberdeen Airport Thistle Hotel from September 4-8.
They will be learning about Scotland’s multibillion pound agriculture, food and drink industry at a seminar at the ANM Group’s Thainstone Centre headquarters on the morning of September 5 before they head out to visit farming operations across the north-east later that day and on September 6 and 7.
The congress – which takes the theme Innovations from a Small Island – is being organised and hosted for a record sixth time by the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists, which is this year celebrating its 70th anniversary. The only previous time it was in Scotland was in 1981.
The guild launched the congress to 60 guests from the IFAJ’s 32 member countries at a reception held in the British Embassy in Berlin to coincide with their January executive meeting. Simon McDonald, the UK ambassador to Germany, and UK Environment Secretary Owen Paterson were the hosts.
British produce was to the fore at the reception with Scottish salmon, haggis, meat pies, beef, whisky trifle, shortbread and oatcakes among the offerings. There was a piper too.
Guild chairwoman Jane Craigie, of Netherdale, near Turriff, said: “Hosting the congress for the second time in Scotland is a great honour and we are humbled by the support from our principal sponsors Massey Ferguson, Perkins and Waitrose and also for the support of the farmers, food companies and the agricultural trade – all of whom will help to make this a great story-telling opportunity to the world about our outstanding food and farming sector.”
Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead added: “Agriculture is part of the fabric of Scotland, and 2014 – when the eyes of the world are on our nation – is the perfect time to showcase our agricultural successes and fantastic range of food and drink.
“I am very much looking forward to welcoming journalists from across the globe for the IFAJ congress.”
Linda McPherson, the senior director of food and drink at Scottish Enterprise, said the sector was last year worth a record £13billion to the Scottish economy.
All the delegates will be visiting crisp and ice-cream manufacturer and farming business Mackie’s of Scotland at Westertown, Rothienorman.
They then have a choice of tours.
Arable and whisky involves visiting Jimmy and Iain Green’s huge cereal enterprise at Corskie, Garmouth, before delegates head to Diageo’s maltings at Burghead and then its new distillery at Roseisle.
The beef and red meat tour takes in Ali Loder’s deer farm at Culquoich, Strathdon, and John Gordon’s sheep and cattle enterprise at Wellheads, Huntly. A visit will also be made to Clare Russell’s Ballindalloch Castle and estate to see the world’s oldest Aberdeen-Angus herd.
Field crops and potatoes includes visits to oilseed rape oil producer Gregor Mackintosh near Peterhead, potato and carrot grower Philip Benzie at Gairneston, King Edward, and Maxwell Farms at Auldtown of Carnoustie, Turriff, to see its turnip enterprise. There will also be a visit to Charlie Bruce’s Kynedor Highland Cattle fold on that tour.
Diversification, forestry and energy will take delegates to the Crown Estate’s Glenlivet Estate for a day, while fresh produce and fruit involves former soft fruit grower of the year Ross Mitchell at Castletown, Fordoun, brassica grower Mike McLaren near Coupar Angus and then beef farmer Adrian Ivory at Meigle.
Aberdeen City Council is hosting a dinner for delegates. There will be a traditional ceilidh at Inverurie’s Thainstone Centre, where the guest speaker is Sir Brian Souter, the chairman of Perth-based transport giant Stagecoach, which is one of the congress sponsors.
A gala dinner at Banchory’s Raemoir House Hotel rounds off the congress.
IFAJ president Markus Rediger, the editor and managing director of the Bern-based Agricultural Information Centre in Switzerland, said: “This is a great invitation for us all. This is a great opportunity for us to get in touch with our colleagues and get to know more about British agriculture.”
Also supporting the congress are Monsanto, feed firm Harbro, Scottish Enterprise, Aberdeen City Council, rural college SRUC, the British Simmental Cattle Society, the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society, the Highland Cattle Society, Aberdeenshire Council, meat processor ABP, Scotland Food and Drink and British Sugar.