THE XXXVIII EURAGRI CONFERENCE – 2023
The XXXVIII EURAGRI Conference was a hybrid event at the Teagasc, Ashtown Food Research Centre, Dublin. Ireland on November 23 and 24, 2023.
The 2023 Euragri conference provided a forum for in-person and virtual delegates to reflect on the emerging responses to delivering Sustainable Food Systems. It explored how functional research and innovation system frameworks and approaches can integrate the complex components of SFS and their interactions.
Main messages from three session speakers and a moderator:
EURAgri Conference – Fabio Cossu (youtube.com)
EURAgri Conference – Thomas Duffy (youtube.com)
EURAgri Conference – Elizabeth Magowan (youtube.com)
EURAgri Conference – Dr. Fionnuala Murphy (youtube.com)
There were four conference sessions:
SESSION 1 – SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS – 2023 SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS UPDATES
The session’s objective was to allow the panel and participants to share their collective experiences and knowledge of the evolving developments that will guide, aid and support the transformation to Sustainable Food Systems.
Moderator: Uno Svedin
An overview of the FAO Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation outcomes. Thanawat Tiensin, FAO’s Director of the Animal Production and Health Division (NSA).
The role of CAP in promoting and developing Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) – An overview of CAP and its contributions to SFS. Fabio Cossu, Policy Analyst Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development.
Sustainable EU Food Systems – the Commission’s Farm to Fork Strategy and key delivery actions. Claire Bury, Deputy Director General, is responsible for food sustainability in DG SANTE.
Food 2030: How a strategic approach to R&I policy can deliver impact and set directionality for the transition towards sustainable food systems. Karen Fabbri, Deputy Head of the Bioeconomy and Food Systems Unit, DG Research & Innovation, European Commission.
SESSION 2 – SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS – STAKEHOLDERS PERSPECTIVES
The session’s objective was to facilitate the panel and participants in exploring their collective experiences and knowledge of stakeholder roles in participating in and transforming to SFS.
Moderator: Wayne Powell
The role of farmers in delivering SFS. Thomas Duffy, Dairy Farmer and former European Council of Young Farmers vice president.
The role of farmers in delivering more integrated ecosystem services. Brendan Dunford, Co-founder of the Burrenbeo Trust.
The role of food processors in delivering SFS – An outline of the processor’s response. Philip Carroll, Chairperson, Meat Industry Ireland.
The role of the consumer in delivering SFS – The consumer’s input to providing SFS. Maeve Henchion is Principal Research Officer, Head of the Teagasc Department of Agrifood Business and Spatial Analysis, and Adjunct Professor at the School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin
SESSION 3 – NATIONAL RESEARCH AND INNOVATION RESPONSES TO DELIVERING SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS.
The session’s objective was to enable the panel and participants to share and explore their collective R&I experiences and initiatives to transform their food production systems to deliver the economic, social and environmental outcomes envisaged in the European Green Deal.
Moderator: Karl Walsh
How can research and innovation in agrifood production, particularly pasture-based livestock farming, change to meet the ambitions around sustainable food systems? Elizabeth Magowan, Director of Sustainable Agrifood Sciences, AFBI.
The Portuguese Response – An overview of the MED strategy for and contribution to delivering SFS in a Mediterranean context. Fatima Baptista, Director, Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development (MED).
The role of plant-based proteins and bioprocessing in transforming Sustainable Food Systems – An overview of Irish research and innovation on the emerging opportunities from science in plant-based food ingredients and bioprocessing. Mark Fenlon, Head of Food Programme, Teagasc.
The Danish Response – An Overview of Denmark’s Roadmap for Sustainable Transformation of the Danish Agrifood System. Jorgen E. Olesen, Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University.
SESSION 4. – THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY – ITS ROLE IN DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS.
The session’s objective was to enable the panel and participants to share and explore their collective experiences and knowledge of the circular economy and how it can be fully integrated into transforming SFS.
Moderator: Fionnuala Murphy
Delivering a circular economy in Scotland – A Route Map for Making it Happen. Luiza Toma, Rural Development & Food Marketing, Scotland’s Rural College
Recycling biological materials to agricultural land – the challenges and the potential benefits to transforming SFS. Owen Fenton, Principal Researcher Scientist, Teagasc Crops, Environment and Land-Use Programme.
EU – FarmBook Project – An introduction. Owen Carton, Secretary General, Euragri