April 21: Sustainable Food Systems and Ireland’s 2030 Agri-Food Strategy

This first National Dialogue focused on Sustainable Food Systems and Ireland’s 2030 Agri-Food Strategy. The Dialogue was chaired by Sinéad McPhillips, National Dialogues Convenor, and opened with a keynote address by Dr. Martin Frick, Deputy Special Envoy to the Food Systems Summit, followed by two panel discussions to examine in more detail:

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Ireland’s 2030 Agri-Food Strategy has been developed using a ‘food systems approach’, which takes account of the links between policies for food, climate and environment, and health, as well as the role of all players in the food value chain in realising a future vision. This pioneering approach is of interest at EU and international levels, particularly in the run-up to the UN Food Systems Summit.

Panellists:

• Tom Arnold - Chair of 2030 Agri-Food Strategy Committee
• Rogier Schulte - Professor, Wageningen University and Research
• Caroline Keeling - CEO of Keelings
• Dr John Bell - Director Healthy Planet, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation at EU Commission

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The central vision for the 2030 Agri-Food Strategy is that Ireland will become a world leader in Sustainable Food Systems (SFSs) over the next decade. Sustainability in its three dimensions - economic, environmental, and social - is at the heart of this vision. The panel discussed the synergies and trade-offs between economic and environmental sustainability.

Panellists:

• Tim Cullinan - President of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA)
• Laura Burke - Director General of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Pat Murphy - CEO of Primary Dairy and Agribusiness at Kerry Group and Chair of Dairy Industry Ireland
• Karen Ciesielski - Chief Executive Officer of the Irish Environmental Network

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