York to host international beer conference (From York Press)

York to host international Beeronomics conference

7:29am Friday 20th July 2012 in Pints of View By Julie Hayes, Business editor

AN international conference looking at the economic impact of beer and brewing is to be held in York next year.

Beeronomics, a collaboration of academics and professionals from all over the world, held its first conference in Leuven, Belgium, in 2009. The next will be held at the University of York in September 2013.

Dr Ignazio Cabras, a lecturer in economics, business and management at the university, who has fought York’s corner to secure the event, is now trying to get businesses to support a full programme of beer-themed events.

He is working with the Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) to try to organise a beer festival.

He is also appealing to brewers large and small to help with activities such as beer tastings and demonstrations of innovations they are using in the industry.

Dr Cabras, who has received a grant from the British Academy to study the vital social and economic role pubs play in rural communities, said: “North England, especially York and North Yorkshire, has seen a rise in the number of micro-breweries.

“It’s an ideal location to hold the conference in York rather than anywhere else in England. We have got a lot to offer in terms of beer diversity, tradition, culture and heritage.”

The conference is expected to attract 80 to 120 academics from all over the world to York, as well as representatives from the brewing sector, policitians and policy makers and the general public, he said.

He said while the conference would be a daytime activity, the delegates would require social events in the afternoon and evenings.

He said: “This is a good opportunity for businesses to have visibility on a world wide level.

“From big, medium and small brewers to anyone involved in the local or national supply chain, we want to involve them in any type of activity that can be connected to the conference.