ReThink Food: Exploring innovation at the heart of Ireland’s food sector

September 10, 2025

9 October 2025 | University of Limerick, School of Medicine | 08:30 – 14:30

ReThink Food Summit is a call to action for Ireland’s food sector to embrace bold innovation and rethink the future of food. This summit brings together industry leaders, transformation consultants and prominent academics to explore how advanced technologies, open collaboration, and process-driven innovation can unlock new value across the entire food value chain. As Ireland faces climate pressures, shifting global markets, and rising consumer expectations, the event invites a real conversation about where the opportunities lie—and how innovation can future-proof one of our most vital indigenous industries.

Confirmed keynote speakers

  • Aidan McCullen, author, transformation consultant and founder of The Reinvention Summit
  • Dr Helena Boschi, psychologist, speaker and educator
  • Prof. Stephen Kinsella, Professor of Economics and Head of the Department of Economics at the University of Limerick; Economic Advisor to the Taoiseach and Tánaiste
  • Gary Fox, entrepreneur and podcaster
  • Kevin Maher, Senior Executive of Dairy Sustainability Ireland (DSI)
  • Dr Mary O’Riordan, Co-Founder of HaPPE Earth
  • Niall Harty, CEO and Co-Founder of All Real Nutrition
  • David Kennedy, Head of Dairy for Bord Bia – The Irish Food Board
  • Prof. Thom Huppertz, Research Professor at University College Cork, Research Fellow at FrieslandCampina, Distinguished Visiting Professor at Victoria University and Editor-in-Chief of International Dairy Journal
  • Orla Mitchell, former CEO of WaterWipes and Global CMO at Mars
  • Jim Bergin, former CEO of Tirlán
  • Nicola O’Connell, Director Business Consulting at Ernst & Young
  • Dr Audrey Wall, Senior Innovation Choreographer at Nuritas
  • Julia Palma, Research Programme Manager at CeADAR, Ireland’s Centre for AI

Who should attend?

  • Senior leaders across food and dairy
  • Innovation and sustainability leads
  • Food SMEs and start-ups
  • Technology and solution providers
  • Entrepreneurs and funders
  • Policy makers
  • DPTC academic and industry partners

When & where

Date: Thursday 9 October 2025

Time: 08:30 – 14:30

Venue: University of Limerick’s School of Medicine, GEMS0-016

Register now via Eventbrite and enter code RTF2025 when prompted.

For more information, please contact DPTC (Dairy Processing Technology Centre) info@dptc.ie


Exhibitors at ReThink Food Summit


ReThink Food Summit

The economics of innovation: when change pays off

The economics of innovation: when change pays off

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Reinvention and disruption: why food needs to think differently

Reinvention and disruption: why food needs to think differently

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Reinvention and disruption: why food needs to think differently

Rethink Food: agenda announced

DPTC Innovation Summit 2025 ReThink Food: Exploring Innovation at the Heart of Ireland's Food Sector Date: Thursday, 9 October 2025 Theme: Transforming Irish Food Through Innovation, Technology & Sustainability 08:30 – 09:00 | Arrival & Registration...