Recipients of the 2026 IFAJ/Alltech Young Leader Award at the IFAJ Congress in Croatia with representatives from IFAJ and Alltech.
Alltech, a global leader in animal health and nutrition, has partnered with IFAJ since 2005 to support the Young Leaders in Agricultural Journalism Awards, which recognize the leadership potential of young members (under 35 years of age). The Young Leaders participate in a unique professional development workshop immediately prior to the IFAJ Congress, led by IFAJ’s Presidium, featuring seminars, career guidance and agricultural tours. They then had the opportunity to meet and network with more than 200 agricultural journalists from around the world during the IFAJ Congress.
The 2026 IFAJ/Alltech Young Leaders include:
Juan Ignacio Alaise, Argentina
Kaitlin Berger, Canada
Katrin Bremer-John, Germany
Andrew Castillo, United States of America
Job Hiddink, The Netherlands
Breifne O’Brien, Ireland
Emelie Werme, Sweden
Josiah Pailay, Liberia
Emmanuel Bright Quaicoe, Ghana
Milliam Murigi, Kenya
“The IFAJ/Alltech Young Leaders program is not just about recognizing 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,” said Adrian Bell, IFAJ secretary general. “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.”
“Alltech is proud to have partnered with IFAJ for more than 20 years to support the Young Leaders program for promising agricultural journalists and communicators, it’s an excellent opportunity to connect with these young leaders early in their careers and to learn more about engagement and media in their countries and how they are using different tools and technologies to share stories of agriculture and food,” said Jenn Norrie, Alltech Communications Manager, North America and Europe