Sustainable Ireland: Sustainable Food National Conference

The second national Sustainable Ireland conference took place on the 11th April 2019 in the Hogan Suite, Croke Park. 

The conference brought together a diverse range of stakeholders to discuss the role of small scale food production in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. 

See below for the full line up of speakers. 

Context

Our current food system is profoundly flawed. Large-scale industrial agriculture damages biodiversity and significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Farmers struggle to earn a decent income, both within the Global North and the Global South. Access to sufficient food and adequate nutrition is a key challenge. Every year, malnutrition claims the lives of three million children under the age of five. In Ireland, this lack of quality food and poor nutrition manifests itself in rising obesity levels. Meanwhile approximately one third of all food is wasted.

Sustainable Food and Agriculture

It’s time to rethink how we grow, share and consume food. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals provide a transformative roadmap for sustainable development, in which food and agriculture, people’s livelihoods and the management of natural resources are addressed not separately, but as one. Small-scale food production is at the heart of this vision.  However, we need to empower and support these food producers and ensure an enabling environment to provide safe and nutritious food, to generate decent incomes, while supporting people-centred rural development and protecting the environment.

Opportunities to Engage

This conference seeks to engage government representatives and stakeholders in dialogue on the role of small-scale and community food producers in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. This will examine both the challenges and enabling factors for small-scale food producers locally and globally, to ensure farming and food production is economically viable, environmentally sustainable and community supported.

AGENDA 

Moderator: Ella McSweeney

9am Registration – Tea/Coffee

9.30am Welcoming Address

9.40am Youth Perspectives – Sustainable Food by 2030 

9.45am Session 1 – An Enabling Environment for Small-scale Food Producers

Michael Creed, TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Ruairi de Búrca, Director General, Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Dr. Séan Healy, Social Justice Ireland,

Niamh Garvey, Head of Policy & Advocacy, Trócaire, Coalition 2030 Steering Group Representative

11.15am Tea/Coffee

11.35 Session 2- Challenges and Opportunities in Practice

Joseph Toindepi, Building Sustainable Livelihoods, World Vision International

Pippa Hackett, Green Party Spokesperson on Agriculture, Food, Forestry, Heritage & Animal Welfare,

Fergal Anderson, Talamh Beo, Leaf & Root Farm

1pm Lunch

2pm Session 3 – Building Communities of Change

Foodture

Chef’s Manifesto

Farming for Nature Awards

2.40pm Discussion and Action Planning

Facilitated by Harriet Emerson

4.15pm Closing Remarks