Agriland beef journalist chosen for prestigious global Young Leaders award
Agriland technical beef journalist, Breifne O'Brien is the only journalist from Ireland who has been chosen to participate in the 2026 IFAJ (International Federation of Agricultural Journalists) Alltech Young Leaders awards programme.
Only 10 agricultural writers are selected from across the globe for the prestigious programme.
The 10 journalists, drawn from 10 countries across four continents, have been selected by an international jury to participate in the 21st edition of the select programme.
Breifne O'Brien, an award-winning journalist was born and raised on a beef and sheep farm in Co. Cavan.
He has had a life-long passion for agriculture and this is where his flare for agricultural journalism began.
He studied Agri-Environmental Science at University College Dublin (UCD).
During his college years, he presented an agri-focused radio show on Belfield FM called 'Keepin' it Country'.
As well as matters relating specifically to Irish farming, Breifne also has global experience working in, and reporting on the agri-food sector.
He has worked on farms as far afield as South Dakota in the USA and his media work has taken him to destinations such as China to report on Irish agri-food trade missions there.
Last year, Breifne attended the World Seed Congress in Istanbul, Turkiye with the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ), an opportunity which he says greatly broadened his perspective on challenges and opportunities facing global agriculture.
He has won awards for his work in agri-media, most recently winning the Best Feature Story at the 2024 AgriGuild Awards.
He previously worked in the agri-news sector and also worked in cattle procurement in the Irish beef sector.
Sponsored by Alltech, the Young Leaders programme seeks to identify and support the most promising new and recent entrants to the profession, to hone and encourage their potential. IFAJ secretary general, Adrian Bell said: “The IFAJ Alltech Young Leaders programme is not just about recognising and nurturing individual talent, important though that is, but also to bring together those with the ability to apply that talent to lead and develop the wider profession.
“Since its inception, the dozens of Young Leader alumni have consistently shown what can only be described as a robust return on investment.
“Through leadership, influence, insight, inspiration and innovation, they are the ones who will carry forward the flame for IFAJ and agricultural journalism.”
IFAJ programme
The IFAJ/Alltech Young Leaders Award was established in 2006 by the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists and Alltech to recognise emerging leaders in agricultural journalism and communications from around the world.
In addition to global recognition, Young Leaders participate in professional development and networking programmes.
The IFAJ/Alltech Young Leaders programme is a key force in developing the next generation of volunteers for IFAJ and its member guilds of agricultural journalists.
Previous participants of the programme have seen exceptional career growth in many cases.
In June, Young Leaders 2014 alumna Amy Roady was named as inaugural director of the James F. Evans Global Center for Food and Agricultural Communications, a new undertaking by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA.
From IFAJ Young Leader to the first director of a global centre dedicated to food and agricultural communications, the IFAJ said that Amy’s trajectory "perfectly reflects the purpose and value underlying IFAJ’s professional development programmes". Open to those under 35 years-of-age across all 61 IFAJ-affiliated national agricultural journalist associations, the 10 Young Leaders will participate in a unique ‘Boot Camp’, held prior to the annual IFAJ Congress – the organisation’s flagship event. Hosted this year by Croatia, the Young Leaders will not only benefit from the immersive workshop, led by IFAJ’s Presidium and featuring seminars, discussions, challenges, skill-building, career guidance and motivational speakers, but also meet around 200 agricultural journalists from around the world, securing new contacts, fresh skills and renewed enthusiasm for their work. “‘Mind-bending’ was how one of last year’s Young Leaders described his experience, only half-way through the first morning,” Bell continued.
“And that’s just it: it’s a remarkable experience for someone in their 20s or 30s, who’s just beginning to find their career path.
“This is a scheme that’s only possible because of Alltech’s unwavering support, both for IFAJ and for agricultural journalism and communication itself.” The 10 2026 IFAJ Alltech Young Leaders are:
- Breifne O'Brien, Agriland, Ireland;
- Juan Ignacio Alaise, Argentina;
- Kaitlin Berger, Canada;
- Katrin Bremer-John, Germany;
- Andrew Castillo, US;
- Job Hiddink, The Netherlands;
- Milliam Murigi, Kenya;
- Josiah Pailay, Liberia;
- Emmanuel Bright Quaicoe, Ghana;
- Emelie Werme, Sweden.
Commenting on being chosen as the only representative from Ireland or the UK, Breifne O'Brien said: "Being selected to participate in the 2026 IFAJ/Alltech Young Leaders Programme is an opportunity which I am hugely honoured to have been awarded.
"I am confident the programme will aid my professional development and leadership experience and also help to further grow my international network of industry contacts.
"Getting the opportunity to participate in global young industry leader development programmes like this will broaden my knowledge and understanding of the global agri-food network and help me communicate even more effectively to our audience the most relevant and up-to-date information.
"I also want to thank Agriland Media for supporting me in this opportunity."
