Today's agricultural-science students are the 'engine room' of the future agri-food sector, according to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue.

Minister McConalogue made his comment at this year's annual University College Dublin (UCD) AgSoc Careers Fair, where he gave the keynote speech to more than 100 students from across the university's school of agriculture and food science.

Addressing those students, the minister said he was standing in a roomful of people of "phenomenal calibre" who will go on to innovate and pioneer new technologies and market practices.

The student-led event was run by AgSoc, one of the longest-running societies in UCD, which has been active since 1923.

Reflecting on the past, Minister McConalogue, a former UCD student himself, said the career paths that graduates follow today are more varied and wide reaching than before.

"But so many others will go on to become pioneering food scientists and innovative food marketers; these are equally as important as the farmer for the success of our sector," he said.

This change in student profile has come against the backdrop of an ever-changing industry, according to the minister, who said such developments are something to welcome.

"Change isn’t something to be feared and it’s something that we should, and do embrace, because it’s nothing new for us.

"We are one of the most innovative sectors over the globe, with farmers using cutting-edge technology and food companies constantly bringing new and exciting food products to kitchen tables across the world."

Concluding his speech, Minister McConalogue said: