As the Ireland Portugal Business Network prepares for the 3rd edition of its annual Innovation Conference on 18 June at Dublin's Guinness Enterprise Centre, our third and final panel will focus on one of the most important challenges facing food and drink businesses today: how to successfully scale, export, and compete in international markets.

Entitled "Food Chain Food & Drink", Panel 3 will bring together experienced entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and digital transformation specialists to explore export development, business strategy, innovation, and international market entry for food and drink startups and SMEs.

Moderated by IPBN member Carlos Justino, founder of Witfy and a specialist in AI-driven business growth and digital transformation, the discussion will offer practical insights for businesses looking to grow beyond their home markets while embracing new technologies and changing consumer demands.

Yvonne Scully – Turning Local Success into Global Opportunity

Food entrepreneur, business angel investor, and export development consultant Yvonne Scully has spent years helping ambitious food and drink businesses scale internationally.

Through her consultancy, Yvonne Scully & Associates, she supports startups and SMEs in developing practical export strategies, preparing for international buyers, and executing successful go-to-market plans across Ireland, the UK, and global markets.

Working closely with organisations including Enterprise Ireland, InterTradeIreland, Bord Bia, and Local Enterprise Offices, Yvonne brings extensive experience in export acceleration programmes, trade missions, mentoring, funding preparation, and commercial growth.

Her contribution to the panel will provide valuable guidance for businesses seeking to navigate the complexities of international expansion while maintaining sustainable growth.

Patrick FitzGerald – Innovation from Farm to Global Market

Few people understand agricultural innovation and food production better than Patrick FitzGerald, Founder and CEO of Beotanics Ltd., co-founder of Nativaland Lda., and a Board Member of Bord Bia – The Irish Food Board as evidenced by his work and previous participation in the 2025 IPBN Sustainability Conference.

With more than 35 years of experience in horticulture, crop development, and plant-based food innovation, Patrick has built an international reputation for introducing novel crops to European markets and helping farmers create new commercial opportunities.

His work has brought products such as purple sweet potatoes, orange sweet potatoes, yacon, oca, and wasabi into large-scale European production, while his companies have secured patents, plant breeders' rights, and participation in major EU-funded Horizon projects.

Patrick's perspective sits at the intersection of innovation, sustainability, agriculture, and international collaboration. His experience operating businesses in both Ireland and Portugal makes him uniquely placed to discuss how food companies can identify opportunities, develop new products, and compete globally.

Guillaume Hernoux – Digital Transformation and the Future of Food Manufacturing

As digital technologies reshape every aspect of the food industry, businesses increasingly need to understand how to turn technological innovation into commercial advantage.

Guillaume Hernoux brings a unique perspective from both industry and academia. Through his work with Irish Manufacturing Research and as a lecturer at EM Normandie Business School, he helps organisations bridge the gap between digital ambition and operational reality.

Over an international career spanning Ireland, France, Luxembourg, and the UK, Guillaume has led digital transformation programmes for manufacturers seeking to improve operational performance, productivity, and competitiveness.

Particularly focused on AI, Industry 4.0, and the emerging world of agentic AI, Guillaume will explore how food and agriculture businesses can harness technology not simply as a tool, but as a strategic advantage for future growth and export success.

Moderated by Carlos Justino

Guiding the discussion will be Carlos Justino, entrepreneur, AI strategist, and founder of Witfy.

With more than 15 years of experience leading marketing, AI, and digital transformation projects across Europe and Brazil, Carlos is passionate about helping businesses use technology to unlock growth opportunities.

His experience building AI-powered solutions and advising companies on digital strategy makes him ideally positioned to lead a conversation focused on the future of food business development, international expansion, and technological innovation.

Join the Conversation

As food and drink businesses face increasing competition, changing consumer expectations, sustainability requirements, and technological disruption, understanding how to scale effectively has never been more important.

Panel 3 will offer practical insights, real-world experience, and valuable perspectives from leaders who have successfully navigated export markets, innovation challenges, and business growth both in Ireland and internationally.

This session forms part of the Ireland Portugal Business Network's Innovation Conference 2026: Food, Health and Wellness, bringing together experts from both countries to explore the future of food systems, health innovation, sustainability, and international collaboration. The conference will take place on Thursday, 18 June 2026 from 9h to 13h at the Guinness Enterprise Centre, Dublin.

Whether you are a startup founder, food producer, exporter, investor, innovator, or industry stakeholder, this is a unique opportunity to connect with experts, exchange ideas, and explore new opportunities between Ireland and Portugal.

Places are limited, so we encourage early registration here.