Day 3 – Sessions and Speakers
Thursday 25th June 2026
7:30 AM - Registration opens.
7:45 AM - 8:45 AM - Members of the Global Agritourism Network Committees will meet. Committee members should confirm the time and meeting room with their Global Agritourism Network Committee Chair.
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM - Delegates can network and browse exhibition stands.
9:00 AM - 10:15 AM - Breakout Sessions - choose one to attend
Session 7.1 Tours & Experiences
Board Member, Scottish Agritourism
Daisy is Manager at Black Isle Berries, a fruit and vegetable farm with a farm shop and self-catering accommodation, in the Scottish Highlands, just north of Inverness. The farm shop is open all year round and caters to both regular customers and a passing tourist trade. Each season there are different pick your own options and events. The fruit and vegetables grown on the farm are sold in the shop alongside a variety of amazing local products and there is a daily takeaway food and drinks menu. Daisy runs the farm shop and kitchen and is learning the ropes on the farm. Daisy is an alumni of the Agritourism Futures Scholarship Programme and a member of the Scottish Agritourism Board.
University Extension, USA
Dr. Brooke Hansen is Director of the Hospitality and Tourism Management Program in the Muma College of Business at the University of South Florida. She is a Board of Directors member for Keep Florida Beautiful and the WellFed Community and serves as an Expert for Hospitality Net's World Panel. Her grants and publications focus on virtualization technologies for cultural heritage tourism, agritourism, sustainable businesses practices, eco-certifications in tourism, and promoting the UN Sustainable Development Goals. She is a Fulbright Specialist in Serbia hosted by the University of Belgrade Faculty of Economics on extended reality applications for tourism.
Farmer, Australia
Clare Lee is the Agritourism Manager at Windy Station on the Liverpool Plains in northern NSW, Australia, a 24,000-hectare property owned by Romani Pastoral Company. Inspired to conserve and reimagine the 120-year-old State Heritage–listed woolshed, Clare has led the diversification of the property into agritourism. Her work blends agriculture with education, creativity, events and community connection, creating meaningful experiences that link visitors to the land. Raised on her family’s farm, Clare developed a deep appreciation for agriculture and rural community. She now enjoys building a purposeful life with her husband Dave and their three children.
University Extension, Puerto Rico
Tatiana Méndez Toro holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and a Master’s in Agricultural Sciences with a concentration in Agricultural Economics, both from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. She also earned certifications in Agroecology and Digital Marketing, and completed her Ph.D. in International Business at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras. As a recipient of the Gilman and Freeman Asia scholarships, she studied at the University of Oulu in Finland and Thammasat University in Thailand. She currently serves as an Agricultural Economics Specialist at the Agricultural Extension Service, College of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico and teaches in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology.
Owner, Jacksons At Jedburgh Ltd
Jasmine Jackson, alongside her husband Fenwick, runs Jacksons at Jedburgh. A popular Farm Experience Attraction in the South of Scotland where they host Highland Cow Experiences, Lambing Experiences and Self Guided tours on their family farm. Showcasing Scottish farming to members of the public through direct bookings and international Travel Trade. Jasmine set out to start her own project on the farm that would keep her busy and bring in a little extra income. What began as a small idea has now become a strong, sustainable, 6 figure business that is currently sitting in a major period of growth. Jasmine will discuss how the business developed and how she juggles the business with farming and family life. Covering her approach to tackling problems inside the business, staffing, challenges that they have hurdled on the way and what the future holds.
Session 7.2 Data Trends & Measurement
Past President, Global Agritourism Network
Dr. Lisa Chase is the Director of the Vermont Tourism Research Center, and she is an Extension Professor at the University of Vermont, USA. Her research and outreach focus on the intersection of food systems, community vitality, tourism, and working landscapes. With agritourism at the center of that intersection, Dr. Chase has worked with farmers, food entrepreneurs, and tourism businesses throughout Vermont and around the world for more than 25 years. She is the founding president of the Global Agritourism Network, which fosters collaboration and provides education, research, and training for agritourism practitioners and scholars worldwide. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, biking, skiing, and eating her way around Vermont and other world-class destinations.
Researcher, Austria
Erika Quendler, is a senior researcher at the Federal Institute of Agricultural Economics, Rural and Mountain Research in Vienna (Austria). She holds a PhD in Agricultural Economics from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna. A central focus of her research is agritourism. She has made significant contributions to this field through scientific publications and active engagement in the Global Agritourismus Network.
Consultant, Canada
Caroline is a parter at Bannikin, a Canadian-based tourism consultancy at the intersection of food, culture, and adventure-based tourism. She works primarily with rural, remote, and emerging destinations and often focusses on culinary and agritourism development. In 2018, Caroline helped to facilitate the development of Scotland’s Food Tourism Action Plan.
Researcher, USA
Claire Whitehouse, M.S. is a Research Specialist at the Center for Rural Studies, a social science research center at the University of Vermont, where she conducts quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research on local and regional food supply chains, agritourism, farm viability, and food systems networks. Claire received her B.A. in Theater and Hispanic Literatures and Cultures from Wesleyan University and her M.S. in Food Systems from the University of Vermont.
University Extension, USA
Growing up in the Willamette Valley gave Audrey the opportunity to be familiar with diverse farming activities. Her efforts strive to bring education and understanding about the benefits of agritourism and farm-direct marketing as an additional revenue source to farmers, tourism groups and government entities. She is part of the OSU Extension Agritourism Working Group and currently collaborates with organizations such as Travel Oregon, nonprofits, economic development, and tourism offices. Audrey also works on efforts like agritourism research projects, individual teaching contacts, and instructs educational workshops. She currently lives on a small farm with her husband and raises Romney sheep.
University Extension, USA
Melissa Fery is a Professor of Practice with Oregon State University Extension Service. She has been supporting Oregon agriculture and small farms in the areas of soil quality, small-scale livestock and pasture production, and land stewardship for over 20 years. Most recently she has been working with farmers and ranchers in her region to explore agricultural tourism and on-farm marketing to diversify income and aid in farm succession. Melissa and her family live on a small farm where they enjoy a rural lifestyle, growing plants and raising animals.
Session 7.3 Marketing & Market Research
This session will focus on understanding your market and customer.
Board Member, Scotland's National Agritourism Board
Linda has worked in a number of operational and strategic roles in her 25 years at VisitScotland, including marketing to long haul visitors, managing travel trade accounts, product development, business support and quality assurance. Her current focus is on working closely with sectors to ensure businesses in the visitor economy have what they need to continue to thrive and grow sustainably.
Researcher, South Africa
Dr Christelle van Zyl is a South African tourism researcher and practitioner specialising in agri-tourism development and destination marketing for rural and emerging destinations. Formerly a university lecturer in Tourism Management, she now supports research, training, and applied projects that strengthen farm-based tourism enterprises and local visitor economies. Her PhD research investigates agri-tourism development pathways in South Africa, focusing on farm-based experiences and sustainable value creation. Following her doctorate, she continues her studies in tourism marketing. She is actively involved in community skills development and local economic development initiatives that link education, small business, and place-based tourism growth.
Farmer, USA
Kara Rutter is a farmer, veteran, and agritourism advocate dedicated to helping rural communities thrive. A retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major, she co-operates Rutter's Ranch in Townville, South Carolina, raising heritage breed Mangalitsa pigs and producing artisan charcuterie. As President of Project Victory Gardens, she leads hands-on programs helping veteran farmers build sustainable agricultural businesses. Through a USDA-NIFA funded agritourism incubator, she works directly with farmer-veterans to develop enterprises rooted in their land and communities. Now a PhD candidate at Clemson University, Kara brings boots-on-the-ground experience to research that is practical, people-centered, and built for the real world.
Entrepreneur, USA
Tara Lynn Hubbard is a regenerative entrepreneur and fourth-generation Floridian shaping enterprises that reconnect people with nature. Through Wonderfield Farm, Hubbard’s Ferry, and impact projects including the Egmont Key Alliance and The Sunline, she transforms tourism, transit, and community action into living models of regeneration. Rooted in Gulf Coast legacy and guided by a global vision, she builds systems that cultivate nature connectedness and create conditions for life to flourish.
Professor, University of Alberta
Elizabeth Halpenny is a Professor at the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation at the University of Alberta, where she also serves as Associate Dean – Graduate Studies. She received a PhD in Recreation and Leisure Studies from the University of Waterloo. She teaches tourism, parks management, and marketing. She loves to garden and walk her dog in Edmonton’s many green spaces, and spends too much time in a car shuttling her two kids to soccer and creative arts activities. Her current research projects include recreational use and stewardship of natural areas; advancing agritourism in Alberta; community development through sustainable tourism, and fostering climate action through communication interventions. Her research web page is: https://sites.google.com/ualberta.ca/e-halpenny-research-page?usp=sharing
Session 7.4 Research Focus
Secretary, Global Agritourism Network
Chadley Hollas grew up working a small beef cattle operation in Central Texas, and his life has been shaped by these experiences since. Chadley is the founder and Principal of Cultivating Tourism, a boutique consulting practice focused on building resilient tourism models that support communities and celebrate working landscapes, local food systems, and sustainable livelihoods. Before working in agritourism, Chadley built a diverse career in hospitality and tourism spanning hotels, large-scale events, and destination marketing both in the US and abroad. He later ran a farmstead goat dairy outside Austin, Texas, with his wife, and has spent years working alongside agritourism operators across the United States. Chadley has been a central figure in building the agritourism support ecosystem in the United States, co-leading federally funded projects that bring together leading scholars and practitioners from all corners of the US. He has played a key role in developing national networks, leading research, and creating educational programs that serve farmers and ranchers, agritourism service providers, and policymakers across the country. Chadley is also the Founding Secretary of the Global Agritourism Network, where he has provided operational and strategic leadership that has kept the network growing since its founding. Chadley is based in Athens, Georgia, where he is also completing a PhD in Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia. Chadley spends as much time as possible with his wife, two sons, and his two (now-retired) farm dogs.
Researcher, Taiwan
I am a master’s student at the Graduate Institute of Tourism Management, National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism(NKUHT). It is the only university in Taiwan specializing exclusively in hospitality and tourism. My primary research focus is on agricultural tourism and rural tourism.
Professor, Taiwan
Dr. Chih Yu Hsiao is an expert specializing in agritourism and farm management. His expertise includes agritourism experience design, farm/ on-site planning, and innovative farm operation and management. He is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Tropical Agriculture and International Cooperation at National Pingtung University of Science and Technology.
Professor, India
Dr. Sarath Sennimalai is an agribusiness academic and researcher specializing in agritourism as a sustainable rural enterprise model. He serves as an Assistant Professor at Kumaraguru College of Technology, Tamil Nadu, India. His research integrates agritourism, farmer entrepreneurship, and diversified farm income strategies. He has conducted extensive demand and supply-side studies and developed policy-oriented models for sustainable implementation. His recommendations were incorporated into the Tamil Nadu State Agricultural Budget (2023-24), and he was inducted as a High-Level Committee Member by the Indian Agricultural Universities Association (2025). He also provides consultancy services to agritourism farmers across India, bridging academia, policy, and grassroots practice.
Researcher, Thailand
Kamonpa is a lecturer in tourism industry management at Khon Kaen University, Thailand. She is currently a postgraduate researcher at Bournemouth University Business School, Poole, UK. From the perspectives of agritourism stakeholders, her doctoral research aims to develop a smart agritourism ecosystem framework that co-creates value at agritourism destinations. Agritourism and rural community development, the adoption of smart technology into tourism and agritourism, and smart tourism are among the topics she is interested in researching.
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM Refreshment Break, Exhibition & Networking
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Breakout Sessions - choose one to attend
Session 8.1 Innovation
Chair, Scottish Agritourism
Riddell began working in tourism in 1978, first assistant tourist officer with Scottish Borders Council, then as Chief Executive of Scottish Borders Tourist Board, joining VisitScotland in 2005 as Director of Partnerships, Strategy and Communications and latterly as Director of Industry and Destination Development. Riddell led and managed a team of over 300 staff that delivered services and advice to visitors, tourism businesses and a wide range of external stakeholders. Riddell’s team operated the network of i centres and delivered VisitScotland’s star rating quality assurance schemes. He was responsible for developing the organisation’s Gaelic Language Plan, Responsible Tourism Strategy and led VisitScotland’s input to the Scottish Agritourism strategy, supporting the formation of the Scottish Agritourism Board in May 2022. Since his retirement in September 2020 he has taken on a series of roles including chairing a group of voluntary Trustees responsible for a Grade A listed building in Eyemouth and a community liaison group linked to a major pump storage hydroelectric scheme north of Fort William.
Manager, Ireland
Ian works for Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Irelands Seafood Development Agency. As part of his role Ian manages the 'Taste the Atlantic' project, which was launched in 2017, and was designed to promote Irish seafood, coastal food culture, and seafood tourism along the Wild Atlantic Way. The initiative operates as a seafood trail and food tourism experience, encouraging visitors and local consumers to experience seafood in the regions where it is produced, learn about how it is caught or farmed, and engage directly with producers.
Consultant, Albania
Ilan Lazega is an Advisor with GIZ in Albania, working on rural development and agrifood systems. His work focuses on supporting farmers, agritourism businesses, and institutions to strengthen local value chains, improve food standards, and promote sustainable tourism. With a background in hospitality management and international cooperation, and experience across Europe, Latin America and South Asia, he brings a practical approach grounded in field work, with a focus on collaboration between public and private actors to bring concrete results and support resilient and sustainable rural economies.
Professor, Canada
Véronique is a research professor at the Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ) and co-director of the GastronomiQc Lab, a joint research unit of ITHQ and Université Laval in Quebec, Canada. She is a food scientist specializing in the physicochemical aspects of food that influence sensory qualities and culinary functionality. Her recent work focuses on sensory analysis approaches grounded in culinary practice and real-world restaurant contexts, with an emphasis on sustainable food systems and the valorization of culinary expertise and local products.
Session 8.2 Country Insights
Board Member, Scottish Agritourism
Ruth Sutherland is a Partner at Hillhouse Farm, a fourth-generation family farming enterprise in the Scottish Borders, where she leads business development and diversification across the farm's portfolio of agritourism ventures. Before returning to the Borders in 2017, Ruth spent over a decade as an economist and banker at RBS – one of the UK's largest financial institutions – gaining deep experience in debt and equity finance, risk analysis, and asset sales and disposals. Since returning to the farm, she has brought these skills directly to bear on Hillhouse's own development, most notably in negotiating and managing the farm's renewable energy interests (biomass, solar and wind power). Ruth has played a central role in building a diverse and growing agritourism business. She has been part of the team that has developed nine holiday accommodation units across two separate sites, alongside longer-term involvement in hospitality operations including hotel and café businesses. She is currently focused on two significant areas of development. The first is growing the farm café as a destination in its own right, deepening its connection to the farm's own produce and the story behind it. The second is the launch of Wild Hill – Hillhouse Farm's newest venture – which will offer landscape-scale visitor experiences showcasing regenerative farming, diverse livestock, wildflower meadows, and rich natural habitats. Ruth brings a strong interest in the application of technology and AI to rural business – exploring how tools such as AI-powered platforms can support financial analysis, streamline business documentation, and open up new creative possibilities for agritourism enterprises. She is currently trialling emerging AI tools, including Chirrup.ai, to better understand their potential for the sector. Ruth is a keen advocate for the economic and environmental opportunities that agritourism represents for Scotland's farming future, and is committed to the role that well-managed rural enterprises can play in building resilient, sustainable communities. Ruth is a Director of Scottish Agritourism and the Destination Leader for the Scottish Borders for Scottish Agritourism.
Certified Management Consultant, Canada
Pierre Cormier, CMC is a Canadian agritourism strategist, consultant, and educator working with farms, rural communities, and industry organizations across Canada and internationally. As Partner at ClearThink™ Group, he supports agricultural and food-based businesses through sector development initiatives, training programs, and coaching. Pierre serves as Treasurer and Education Committee member of the Global Agritourism Network (GAN) and contributes to international dialogue on agritourism policy, research, and capacity-building. His work in rural economic development and agritourism innovation has received national and international recognition, including professional consulting awards in Canada and honours through the Constantinus International Awards. His perspective combines immersive on-farm residencies, strategy development, and global collaboration to advance agritourism as a pathway to farm sustainability and resilient rural economies.
Lecturer, Albania
Vice President of the Global Agritourism Network (GAN) and Chair of the Eastern Europe Committee. Lecturer and researcher at the Agricultural University of Tirana. He holds a PhD and has completed post‑doctoral research on agritourism development. His academic work focuses on rural development, tourism, and agritourism, with publications in international peer‑reviewed journals. Actively involved in national and international projects, he has contributed significantly to advancing agritourism in Albania by co-founding the Albanian Agritourism Association, supporting legal reforms, support on drafting the National Agritourism Strategy, leading enterprise capacity‑building initiatives, and designing financial grant schemes to foster sector growth.
Freelance Consultant in Agritourism and Rural Development, Austria
Hans Embacher, 65, was director of the Austrian Farm Holidays Association from 1991 until April 2026 and thus one of the key players in rural tourism in Austria and as Vice-president of the European Association for rural and farm tourism („Eurogites“) also in Europe. At present he works as a free lance consultant in agritourism and rural development. After the studies of business administration and translator/interpreter at the university of Innsbruck/Austria he graduated in tourism marketing at the renowned University of Surrey/UK (thesis: „Austria’s image as a summer holiday destination“ for the Austrian National Tourism Office). After the study he gathered pracitical experience with all levels of tourism as a tourism consultant with Edinger Tourism Consultants and Engineers Ltd. in Innsbruck. Over 10 years his position in the marketing board of the Austrian National Tourist Board offered valuable overview over the major issues and developments in tourism, in the Austrian Chamber of Agriculture Embacher represents the interests of rural tourism in the “rural regions”-committee. International consultancy projects in the CEE-countries Poland and Estonia, in 2012 invitation to the German Bundestag as a leading expert in rural tourism. Lectora¬tes at the University of Linz, at the University College for Agrarian and Environ¬men¬tal Pedagogy in Vienna, the Universities of Applied Sciences in Salzburg and Krems. Co-author of the tourism-encyclopaedia in 2008. With it’s consequent quality-policy, with establishing the brand „Farm Holidays in Austria“, with the development of various special interest-products and finally with the successful presentation of 2.300 small farm-enterprises on a common web-plattform the Austrian Farm Holidays Organisation has achieved a sustainable, successful development and a strong position in Austria’s tourism and agricultural sector. This organisation with some 2.300 member-farms (with 27.000 guest-beds) has been “role model” for many developments and projects in numerous European countries over the years.
Session 8.3 Scholars, Next Generation Views
Presenters for this session will be selected from the Global Agritourism Scholarship cohort and will be announced closer to the conference.
Board Member, Scotland's National Agritourism Board
Julia Latto has over 25 years of experience in rural economic development and leads on a wide portfolio of national programs for Scottish Enterprise, including Scotland’s Agritourism Monitor Farm Programme and Scottish Rural Leadership Programme – both of which support over 1,000 businesses across rural Scotland. Julia has presented on leadership and entrepreneurial development in rural businesses worldwide. She is a past Director of Oxford Farming Conference and a member of the International Association of Programmes for Agriculture and Rural Leaders. Julia is a Borderer and native of Hawick, and started her career in the Textiles industry, which fuelled her passion and drive for entrepreneurship and people.
Assistant Manager,
Belarusian Touristic Union
Ph.D. in Economics. Еxpert in inclusive and sustainable tourism. Specializes in tourism development with a focus on accessibility, sustainability, and diverse user needs. Experienced in academia, project activities, and consulting, covering curriculum development, educational materials, and advising on government and international projects. Nowadays works for the Republican Union of Tourism Industry (Belarus). Serves as an information representative for the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT) in Belarus and participates in industry initiatives to advance inclusive tourism practices.
Marketing Manager,
Chatsworth Farm
Charlotte grew up on her family’s farm, Chatsworth Farm in Alberta, Canada, raising cattle, sheep, poultry, and crops. Today, she and her fiancé, Rob, farm nearby, while Charlotte continues to work at the main farm. She manages Chatsworth’s farm-to-table program and on-farm experiences such as Open Farm Days and farm tours. Charlotte shares her love of agriculture through social media, showcasing everyday farm life, trips to the butcher, preparing customer orders, and cooking with food grown and raised on the farm. She’s really grateful for the opportunity to attend this conference and looks forward to connecting and learning in Scotland.
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Co-owner,
Finhome sp. z o.o. (@Finlandia SPOT)
Katarzyna Jämsä is a researcher, educator, and rural entrepreneur passionate about integrating agritourism, outdoor education, and sustainable community development. She worked for 18 years at Centria University of Applied Sciences in Finland, first as Head of the International Relations Office and later as Director of International Projects. Currently, she lectures and conducts research in Poland, where she is pursuing a PhD at Poznań University of Technology on “Models of Marketing Competence Management in the Rural Tourism Sector for the Development of Outdoor Education.” Together with her Finnish husband, she runs Finlandia SPOT, an agritourism farm near Poznań that offers outdoor education programs for children, families, and teachers. She is the author of practical guides for implementing outdoor education in Polish schools and kindergartens, including the Good Practice Handbook, Guide for School Directors, and Outdoor Education Implementation Manual, as well as several international scientific articles. As a mother of three, she combines family life with her mission to promote nature-based learning, cross-cultural collaboration, and sustainable rural entrepreneurship across Poland and Europe.
Session 8.4 Young Agritourism Entrepreneurs from Scotland's Islands
This session is focused on Farmers.
Sponsored by:
Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Anna Miller is Head of Tourism, Food and Drink at Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), where she leads work to support rural economies and the growth of tourism and food and drink businesses. She brings experience across marketing, communications and sector development, and previously worked in UK and brand marketing at VisitScotland. Anna has represented the Highlands and Islands on the Tourism and Hospitality Industry Leadership Group and the Scotland Food and Drink Partnership. She lives in Inverness.
Farmer
Helen is Senior Partner at Knockbarry Farm outside Pitlochry in Perthshire. Knockbarry is a hill sheep farm with a contract distillery, venue, and a venison social enterprise called Fair Feast. Fair Feast is a non-profit that processes deer from areas of extreme overpopulation into venison parcels for food banks and community larders. Fair Feast sales fund food donations and in the last year Fair Feast has donated 2.5 tonnes in venison. In the last fortnight Helen has opened the first ever Social Enterprise Butcher Shop where the public can fund the change they wish to see in their community through their purchases. Helen recently took part in The Agritourism Programme run by Scottish Agritourism.
Farmer
Lily grew up on the Isle of Mull, where she has been immersed in farming, tourism and food her whole life. The family business is Isle of Mull Cheese located at Sgriob-ruadh Farm (pronounced Skeeb-rua), located just inland from Tobermory on the island. It is a family-run dairy farm known for producing organic, raw milk cheese, including Isle of Mull Traditional Farmhouse Cheese and Hebridean Blue. Although the primary business is cheesemaking, the family have also recently built a distillery, to turn whey from cheesemaking, into alcohol, adding another element to the tourist activity, undertaking cheese & drinks tastings as well as distillery tours. The business has a busy café and farm shop and undertakes farm tours. Isle of Mull Cheese is sold throughout the UK and appears on many restaurant menus. Lily works full-time in the family business and previously worked as a Project Manager for SAC Consulting on Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service Programme. She has a Rural Business Management Degree. Lily recently took part in the Agritourism Futures Programme run by Scottish Agritourism and along with her family are active participants in the Core Community Group of the Agritourism Monitor Farms Programme.
Farmer
Lara lives on a dairy farm at Bain Farm, in Sandwick on the island of Orkney. Lara works alongside her brother David and parents Willie and Kirstin and Lara and David are the fourth generation to be involved in the business. The Agritourism venture is The Orkney Dairy which Lara started in 2017, making produce from the unique herd of Fleckvieh cows. There is an on-farm shop selling milkshakes, yoghurt and cheese from the dairy herd, as well as home produced baking and this small shop has become a destination on the island and popular with visitors and locals. The Orkney Dairy’s products are now sold throughout the island of Orkney and also mailed out to other parts of the UK. The milkshakes are sold on Northlink Ferries which connects Orkney to the mainland. A recent development has been an outside catering truck, taking farm produce to events throughout the islands of Orkney. Lara previously worked for SAC Consulting and has a Rural Business Management Degree from Queen Margaret University. Lara is the Destination Leader for Orkney and Shetland for Scottish Agritourism and is a recent participant in the Agritourism Futures Programme with Scottish Agritourism.
11.45 AM - 12.45 PM Lunch
Conference MC
Nuffield Scholar and world-leading communications expert, Claire Taylor, will travel from Australia to compere the keynote sessions at the Global Agritourism Conference 2026. Scottish born Claire, recently helped organise one of Australia’s first national agritourism conferences and is a highly experienced host of major international events, including the Global Seed Congress and Australian Dairy Conference.
12:45 PM - 1:00 PM Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs Address
Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs
Gillian Martin grew up in Newburgh, Aberdeenshire. Prior to her role as an MSP, she lectured in Television Production at North East Scotland College and ran her own video production company. She also designed safety courses for the energy industry and was the manager of an emergency media response team for companies operating in the North Sea for 10 years. Ms Martin was elected as a Member of the Scottish Parliament to represent Aberdeenshire East in 2016.
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM Session 9: Agritourism Data Insights & Marketing
International brands at the heart of the tourism industry process millions of bookings and reviews for global agritourism every year. Keynote speaker, Justin Reid, Senior Director of Media, Destinations, Hotels and Growth at Tripadvisor, will share data and insights about the agritourism sector from Tripadvisor’s global perspective.
Tripadvisor
Justin has been at Tripadvisor heading up destination marketing initiatives since 2014. In the past 3 years his remit has expanded from EMEA to all markets outside the US. A firm believer in content marketing and top of the funnel inspiration, Justin has worked with many destinations over the years including, of course, one of his favourite destinations in the world - Scotland ! Outide of work Justin is a keen runner and avid Ireland rugby fan - though Scotland is firmly his second favourite !
1:30 PM - 1:55 PM Refreshment Break, Exhibition & Networking
1:55 PM - 2:35 PM Session 10: World Agritourism Awards
Chair of the World Agri Tourism Day Committee, Pandurang Taware, (Agri Tourism India), will lead the World Agritourism Awards ceremony. The United Nations has designated 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF). The World Agritourism Awards will recognise the significant impact that women have had on rural development, enabling economic empowerment, skill development, climate resilience, and community-based enterprise. By placing women farmers at the centre of agritourism, this theme highlights inclusive growth, gender equity, and sustainable rural economies that benefit farming families and rural communities worldwide.
Father of Agritourism
Fourth generation farmer and first-generation entrepreneur, Pandurang Taware, grew up in a small village, Sanghavi, in Baramati Taluka, India. He is known as the Father of Indian agritourism and has driven significant growth for India’s rural economy over the past 20 years. His childhood was immersed fully in farming and village life. His father’s desire was that Pandurang should study in agriculture and work for the betterment of farming communities in India however he initially studied Computer Science and worked in the hospitality industry for 20 years. In 2003 he married agriculture with tourism and launched the Agri Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) in India with a model Agri tourism Centre in Baramati. After running Agritourism operations successfully for three years, he took on training and skill development in Agritourism for other farmers in Maharashtra and as of March 2020 he had replicated this idea of Agri Tourism on 628 farms in more than 300 villages and 29 districts in the state of Maharashtra. The Agri Tourism Sector Survey undertaken by ATDC in 2017, 2019 and 2020 shows that 0.47 million, 0.53 million, 0.79 million tourists have visited these centres respectively, generating a total of 55.79 million Indian rupees for farming families and over 7,000 jobs for women and youths in rural communities. Padurang has been a recipient of various Awards and Recognition at home in India and abroad and he is a regular speaker at various International and National conferences. He is the Regional Representative for South West Asia on the Global Agri Tourism Network (GAN) and Chair of the World Agri Tourism Day Committee.
2:35 PM - 3:30 PM Closing Ceremony
This session will include a thank you from Scotland, a handover to the Quebec 2027 Global Agritourism Conference team and the announcement of the new President of the Global Agritourism Network.