May 17: Aligning Domestic and Foreign Policy towards Sustainable Food Systems

The Dialogue was chaired by Ruairí de Búrca, Director General, Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs, and opened with keynotes by Dr. Susanna Moorehead, Chair of the Development Assistance Committee at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and Dr. Jamie Morrison, Director at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), followed by two panel discussions to examine in more detail:

The vision and ambition set out in Ireland’s 2030 Agri-Food strategy, in particular the aim to become a leader in Sustainable Food Systems, provided the basis for the Irish government and the stakeholders in the agri-food sector to show leadership across the multilateral system. The panel discussed the policy framework and emerging initiatives to leverage domestic capacities within Ireland’s International development policy, A Better World.

Panellists:

• Tom Arnold - Government of Ireland’s Special Envoy on Food Systems
• Michelle Winthrop - Policy Director in the Development Cooperation and Africa Division in the Department of Foreign Affairs
• Owen Brennan - Chair of Devenish (Nutrition)
• Professor Charlie Spillane - Ryan Institute NUI Galway and Chair of Irish Forum for International Agricultural Development (IFIAD)

While policy frameworks are important, the feedback loops providing insight into the changing contexts in developing countries are critical to ensure effective delivery. The panellists provided a range of perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing Irish stakeholders on the ground in developing countries.

Panellists:

• Fionnuala Gilsenan - Ambassador to South Africa
• Caoimhe de Barra - CEO of Trócaire
• David Butler- Director of Sustainable Food Systems Ireland (SFSI)
• Ousmane Badiane - Founder and Executive President of AKADEMIYA2063