Join us on 28 September for a high-level conference on how to achieve sustainable food systems in Ireland and beyond.
LIVESTREAMSpeakersNetworking corner
During a full day of inspiring discussions at O’Reilly Hall, Dublin, experts and leaders from the Irish and international land and agri-food value chain will convene to explore how unlocking innovation across all systems will be instrumental to reach Ireland’s (and global) ambitious climate goals, setting us on a path to climate neutrality by 2050.
Hear from high-level speakers and connect with participants from agri-business, policy, government, research, farmer associations and citizen groups, to shape a vision for sustainable food systems together. You will have the chance to voice your perspective during thematic breakout sessions in the afternoon. For those who cannot attend in-person, morning plenary sessions will be broadcast online.
The conference will also be the opportunity to present progress and activities from the Deep Demonstration partnership between EIT Climate-KIC, Europe’s largest climate innovation initiative, and Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and to discover how you can get involved in delivering sustainable land and agri-food systems.
The conference is the centerpiece of EIT Climate-KIC’s Community Week in Ireland, where members of our community come together for exclusive sessions and networking opportunities to advance systems innovation for climate action. Discover how you can join our community here.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to shape sustainable food systems in Ireland and beyond!
Please note that places are limited: make sure to indicate your preference to attend in-person and we will confirm your spot closer to the date.
Agenda (all times Irish Standard Time)
Please consult this page regularly as speakers and sessions are continuously updated.
| 8:45 – 9:00 | Registration |
| 9:00 – 9:15 | Welcome remarks |
| • Frank Monahan, Dean of Agriculture and Head of the School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin • Suzanne Reynders, Head of International Priority Programme Soil and Climate, French National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE) |
|
| 9:15 – 9:25 | Keynote address |
| • Martin Heydon, Minister of State with responsibility for Research and Development, Farm Safety and New Market Development | |
| 9:25 – 10:00 | Panel discussion: Why do we need systems innovation for land, agri-food transformation in Europe? |
| • John Bell, Director for Healthy Planet, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission • Kevin O’Connor, Professor of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology & Director BiOrbic Bioeconomy SFI Research Centre, University College Dublin • Patrick Barrett, Agricultural Inspector, Bioeconomy, Agriculture Knowledge, Innovation System & Agri-Digitalisation, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Moderated by Kirsten Dunlop, Chief Executive Officer, EIT Climate-KIC |
|
| 10:00 – 10:40 | Panel discussion: What does systems innovation in the land, agri-food system look like for Ireland? |
| • Bill Callanan, Chief Inspector for Agriculture, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine • Saskia Visser, Resilient and Climate Neutral Regions Cluster Lead & Programme manager for the Irish Deep Demonstration, EIT Climate-KIC Moderated by Andy Kerr, Chief Strategy Officer, EIT Climate-KIC |
|
| 10:40 – 11:20 | Coffee break & networking corner with local initiatives and innovations |
| • FARMEYE • Earthworm Foundation • Teagasc (Agriculture and Food Development Authority) • Green Restoration Ireland • Fresh Graze • AgTechUCD Innovation Centre • University College Dublin |
|
| 11:20 – 12:00 | Panel discussion: How is systems innovation for sustainable food systems being delivered elsewhere? |
| • Daniela Ibarra-Howell, CEO and co-founder, The Savory Institute • Jon Ander Ostolaza, Director, Basotik Foundation • Bart Stegeman, Slovenian Orchestrator- Circular Economy and Value Chains Transformation, EIT Climate-KIC Moderated by Saskia Visser, Resilient and Climate Neutral Regions Cluster Lead & Programme manager for the Irish Deep Demonstration, EIT Climate-KIC |
|
| 12:00 – 13:00 | Panel discussion: Leadership and initiatives from Ireland’s land, agri-food system |
| • Pat McCormack, President, Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association • Richard Clinton, Group Commercial Director, Dawn Meats • Deirdre O’Shea, EMEA Food, Agribusiness & Beverage Industry Leader, AON Moderated by Stella Meehan, Editor, Agriland |
|
| 13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch break |
| 14:00 – 15:00 | Parallel workshops: Round 1 |
| • Just transition in the Irish agri-food system • Financing innovations in land, agri-food • Climate-neutral innovation in tillage |
|
| 15:00 – 16:00 | Parallel workshops: Round 2 |
| • Diversifying farmer incomes through carbon farming and ecosystem services • Implementing circular bio-economy in Irish regions • Defining the new normal for sustainable dairy |
|
| 16:10 – 16:45 | Panel discussion: How do we create an enabling environment for systems innovation in Ireland? |
| • Catriona Power, Cluster Manager, Circular Bio-economy Cluster South-West, Munster Technological University • Patrick Barrett, Agricultural Inspector, Bioeconomy, Agriculture Knowledge, Innovation System & Agri-Digitalisation, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine • Susan Crawford, Head of Sustainability & Business Banking, Bank of Ireland Moderated by Luke Baker, Investment Programme Manager, EIT Climate-KIC |
|
| 16:45 – 17:00 | Wrap up of discussions and closing remarks |
| • Andy Kerr, Chief Strategy Officer, EIT Climate-KIC • Suzanne Reynders, Head of International Priority Program Soil and Climate, French National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE) |
|
| 17:00 | Networking drinks |
About EIT Climate-KIC’s work on food systems innovation in Ireland
In order to help the land, agri-food system to deliver on accelerated pathways for climate action and food system transformation, the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) has partnered with EIT Climate-KIC – Europe’s largest climate innovation partnership — to support national climate action in the agriculture and food sector. Building on EIT Climate-KIC’s Deep Demonstration methodology, the now two-year old partnership is developing and initiating a portfolio of innovation actions across the entire value chain, from soil to farm to fork.
