THE FUTURE OF FOOD:Maureen Gaffney will be among a host of optimists encouraging the food industry at next week's Good Food Ireland conference

ONE THING WE have in abundance these days? Food awards.

Good Food Ireland, a nationwide umbrella group committed to promoting Ireland as a food destination, will hold its annual conference next Monday at the Shelbourne hotel in Dublin, to be followed by an awards dinner. With 263 businesses in the group employing 5,000 people, from B&Bs to cookery schools, farmers’ markets and shops and restaurants, these awards will recognise commitment to good Irish food and support for local farmers, food producers and fishermen.

Its focus will be on building business in a recession, and it will get off to a good start with the always insightful, intelligent positivism of Dr Maureen Gaffney, whose address is entitled “Flourishing Under Fire”. Her recent talks around the country to all manner of interest groups – from theatre to business folk – have become real talking points, with audiences hanging on her every word. As well they might.

There will be more than 16 speakers on Monday, with mentoring workshops on everything from food safety and hygiene issues to using social media and online services. Una Fitzgibbon of Bord Bia will talk about sustaining growth as a small or medium-sized enterprise (SMEs), Helen McDaid from Fáilte Ireland will talk about food in tourism, and a number of Good Food Ireland members – Claire Nash of Nash 19 in Cork, Pat Whelan of James Whelan’s Butchers in Clonmel, Mark Wheeler of Rathmullan House in Donegal and Janet Drew of Janet’s Country Fayre in Co Wicklow – will tell their business stories.

Hugo Arnold, head of quality assurance with Good Food Ireland, will discuss why standards matter, and Kevin Shannon of Odyssey International will propose marketing strategies for selling Ireland and its food culture. A well orchestrated event, then, commandeered by the group’s managing director, Margaret Jeffares,and chairman Redmond O’Donoghue. To sign up, see goodfoodireland.ie.