Anne-Marie Butler

Agri Aware

In 1996, a number of leading agri-food businesses identified the need for an independent body to provide the general public with information and education on the importance of agriculture and food to the Irish economy. As a result, Agri Aware was founded in 1996 by the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA), FBD, Bord Bia, the Irish Farmers' Journal and Ornua. Agri Aware is a charitable trust that is funded by the farming and agri-food industry. The mission statement of Agri Aware is to 'improve the image and understanding of Agriculture, Farming and the Food industry among the general public'. Objectives of Agri Aware • To improve the image of the agriculture, farming and food industries • To promote greater awareness among the non-farming community of modern agriculture, the rural environment, animal welfare, food quality and safety • To heighten farmer awareness of the importance of best farming practices in the protection of the environment, animal welfare and food safety • To provide information about agriculture and food in schools nationwide to inform the non-farming community about the crucial role that the farming and agri-food industry play in the Irish economy Family Farm An acre of fun representing an island of farming in Ireland! Family Farm is a purpose built interactive acre that represents modern Irish farm life and is integral to communicating the importance of Irish agriculture to over 1 million visitors each year. The development of Family Farm was supported by the IFA, Bord Bia, FBD, IFAC and Dublin Zoo. At Family Farm, visitors can learn about farm animals, food origin and quality. In the farmyard itself, visitors will learn about the animals, from cows to chickens, while in the Farmhouse classroom, Ireland's agricultural history comes to life in the Farm's heritage exhibition, complete with touch screens, photographs and video footage.