The opportunities for young women to enjoy a rewarding career in agriculture are "endless" according to the co-owner of one of the country's largest beef producers.

Carol Mallon, together with her husband Frank and family, owns Liffey Meats.

Earlier this month the family-run business signed a new €7.5 million contract with Lidl to supply Irish grass-fed beef to Lidl stores in up to 26 European markets.

But even before the new contract was signed Liffey Meats was already Lidl Ireland’s largest Irish beef supplier with the partnership spanning more than 20 years.

According to Carol "seeing is believing" when it comes to inspiring young woman to consider that there are a variety of career opportunities available across the agriculture sector.

This was just one of the reasons why she opened the gates at the Liffey Meats farm in Co. Meath to host a special Women in Agriculture event in to highlight the range of jobs that now exist for young women in the sector.

Carol told Agriland that in this the International Year of the Woman Farmer it is vitally important that young women can see female role models already succeeding in the sector and her key message to anyone considering a career in agriculture is simple - "go for it".

Liffey Meats brought together an all female panel of speakers to showcase to students from local secondary schools how women can succeed in their chosen field whether it is in academia, sustainability, genetics or farming.

The United Nations has designated 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer.

This year will spotlight the essential roles women play across agri-food systems, from production to trade, and underline that women are often "unrecognised" for the contribution that they make to the global agri-sector.

One key message at the Liffey Meats event was that young women do not have to come from a large farming background to succced in the world of agriculture.

According to Dr. Zoe McKay, assistant professor of Grass and Forage Science, School of Agriculture and Food Science at University College Dublin there are now "endless opportunities to make a really incredible career and lifestyle for yourself" in the agri-sector.