OGI Conference 2025
Join us for OGI Conference 2025
OGI Conference 2025 takes place on November 25th at the Avalon House Hotel, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny. We are delighted to bring together an exciting schedule of international and Irish growers, for an in-depth day packed with expert talks, lively discussions, key networking opportunities, and trade exhibitors.
This year’s speakers include Bryan O’Hara, pioneer no-till grower from Connecticut, USA, on his first visit to Ireland, renowned UK organic farmer Guy Singh-Watson, founder of Riverford, and Geetie Singh-Watson, owner of the Bull Inn, in Devon, UK and founder of the world’s first organic pub.
They’ll be joined by an expert panel of Irish growers including Jim Cronin, Janet Power, Joe & Aoife Reilly and Aonghus Ó Coistealbha, along with speakers from the OGI and more. Tickets are €30 and available now from NOTS.ie.
SPEAKERS & PANELLISTS
Bryan O’ Hara
We are delighted to welcome Bryan O’Hara to Ireland for OGI Conference 2025. Bryan is an organic vegetable farmer, educator, and author known for bringing life back into the soil through no-till and mid-till growing systems. From his Tobacco Road Farm in Connecticut, USA, he has spent more than thirty years refining methods that nurture soil health, reduce disturbance, and support ecological and economic resilience. His book, No-Till Intensive Vegetable Culture, reflects years of dedication to understanding soil biology, composting, cover cropping, and low-input methods farming in harmony with nature rather than against it. His approach offers hope and tangible practice for growers facing rising climate pressures, rising costs, and changing weather.
This year holds special meaning as Bryan is making his first trip to Ireland, to connect with the farmers and land of his ancestors as he puts his feet in Irish soil for the first time! He comes not only to share what he has learned, but to listen to see how his experience might translate into Irish fields and farms, where climate, scale, soil type, and tradition all matter deeply.
Bryan was named Farmer of the Year by the Northeast Organic Farming Association in 2016. He continues to teach, consult, and partner with growers who want to rebuild life in their soil, to deepen roots in the land, quite literally and figuratively, “ar scáth a chéile,” in the shade of one another.
Guy Singh-Watson
We’re thrilled to announce that Guy Singh-Watson, founder of Riverford, will be joining us at OGI Conference 2025. Over the last 30 years, Guy has taken Riverford from one man and a wheelbarrow delivering homegrown organic veg to friends, to a national veg box scheme delivering to around 50,000 customers a week across the UK.
He has championed organic farming and fair treatment for people and planet, building one of the UK’s most respected 100% employee-owned businesses. Guy will share the inspiring journey behind Riverford, his ethos of doing business differently, and why staying true to your values can grow something extraordinary.
Geetie Singh-Watson
Geetie Singh-Watson, founder of The Bull Inn, in Devon, will also join our stellar line-up at OGI Conference 2025. Geetie opened the world’s first certified organic pub in London, back in 1998 – the Bull Inn is now her 4th!
Geetie will discuss the values that drive her award-winning commitment to sustainability, ethical sourcing and community, sharing her vision on what it means to do business responsibly — with heart, integrity and a deep respect for people and planet.
Máiréad Costin
Máiréad Costin is an organic horticulture grower based in the Gaeltacht area of Ring, Co. Waterford. She runs Garraí Mara Organic Veg Farm, supplying fresh organic produce to local restaurants, shops, and markets in Dungarvan and Waterford City.
After 20 years working as a nurse, Máiréad made the move into farming seeking time in nature and a new way of life. What began on a ¼ acre behind her family home has grown into a thriving organic enterprise certified by the Organic Trust.
Passionate about sustainability and community, Máiréad has also hosted Social Farming groups and plans to offer organic gardening courses in the future. Máiréad will discuss the challenges and opportunities building a sustainable career as a female horticulturist in Ireland – how to create balance while growing a diversified business and maintaining a quality of life.
Tools & Tech Panellists
Jim Cronin
One of Ireland’s leading horticulturalists, Jim Cronin farmed a 16-acre organic market garden farm in Co. Clare for over 30 years, adopting biological agriculture principles. A much sought-after teacher and educator, Jim combines old traditions with new knowledge and methods based on sound principals, proving that one can make a good commercial yield from a small area without compromising nature.
Janet Power, Gorse Farm
Gorse Farm is a certified Organic market garden, located in Bunclody on the Carlow-Wexford border, specialising in supplying leafy greens, particularly salad greens, to supermarkets and restaurants across Wexford. The remaining portion of the farm is dedicated to tree-planting, hedgerows, flowers and re-wilding.
Aonghus Ó Coistealbha, An Garraí Mara
An Garraí Glas is a 1-acre farm where Aonghus grows a variety of chemical-free vegetables including lettuce/salad leaves, onions, tomatoes, radishes, herbs and more. A tremendous amount of vegetables are grown from a small space, not to mention a challenging landscape with plenty of stone and a strong Atlantic prevailing wind. All of the fresh produce grown is sold to local shops and restaurants, as well as in the on-farm shop.
Joe & Aoife Reilly, Glasraí Organic Farm
Glasraí is a 7-acre organic vegetable farm growing a wide range of fruit and vegetables, with a focus on soil health, using a combination of minimal soil disturbance and continual cover cropping to protect soils and build microbiology and fertility. We are invested in seeing small ecological farms succeed in supporting families and communities, and in a way that is healthy for everyone who works there.
