NI’s first ever food conference will inform UN summit

A crucial conference on food will provide Northern Ireland’s policy makers, producers, environmentalists and farming community with a “golden opportunity” to determine the sector’s role in a post-pandemic economic recovery.
By Helen McGurk
Published 8th Feb 2021, 12:27 BST
Updated 8th Feb 2021, 12:29 BST
John and Eileen Cavanagh, Cavanagh EggsJohn and Eileen Cavanagh, Cavanagh Eggs
John and Eileen Cavanagh, Cavanagh Eggs

Northern Ireland’s first ever Food, Farming and Land Convention which runs online tomorrow, February 9, and Wednesday, February 10, is open to the public and will explore the future of food systems and land management.

The conference, which is a joint initiative with RSPB Northern Ireland, Food NI, Food Farming and Countryside Commission, Northern Ireland Environment Link and Nature Friendly Farming Network, is viewed internationally as significant and has attracted keynote speaker Michael Fakhri, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Fakhri said the Belfast conference outcomes will inform a broader UN approach.

“This autumn the United Nations will be convening a Food Systems Summit where new actions to transform the way the world produces and consumes food will be launched. Conversations like these are crucial to the lead up to this summit.”

The convention organisers believe this is a time of systemic change in food and farming.

Kerry Melville of the Belfast Food Network, said: “From climate to Covid, from biodiversity to Brexit, from public health to poverty, the forces of change are multiple and complex.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

To register for the conference visit www.foodfarmingland.co.uk/convention21

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers — and consequently the revenue we receive — we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Alistair Bushe

Editor

Related topics:Northern Ireland

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.