Venue: Maynooth University
Date: April 13th 2017
Time: 10am to 3.30pm
Please confirm attendance by emailing foodsovmaynooth@gmail.com
April 17 is the International Day of Peasant Struggle – a day to recognize and acknowledge the difficulties faced by diverse food producers amidst a world in which one-tenth of humanity experiences hunger. There is no better time of the year to discuss and debate how we can create alternative food futures in Ireland and beyond. Whether by adopting food sovereignty or some other framework, at issue is finding ways for urban and rural dwellers, peasants, landless people, small-scale farmers, and coastal communities to work on mechanisms that can nourish and empower food producers and consumers like never before. The task to is identify and raise the profile of projects and practices that might build a sustainable, democratic, and just food system. During this one-day event held at Maynooth University, we invite attendees to contribute and share their experiences about creating alternative food futures.
‘Creating Alternative Food Futures’ will have three themes: resist, transform, and build.
Theme 1: ‘Resist’
10-11.30am
Location: Callan Building Room CB2, North Campus of Maynooth University.
Opening music
Keynote speaker (followed by discussion):
Dr. Chiara Tornaghi, Research Fellow in Urban Food Sovereignty and Resilience, Centre for Agroecology, Water & Resilience, Coventry University
TEA/COFFEE BREAK
Theme 2: ‘Transform’
12-1.15pm
Location: Callan Hall, South Campus of Maynooth University.
Hosted by Davie Philip, Cultivate/Cloughjordan EcoVillage
Short presentations, including overviews of their work from:
Fergal Anderson, Food Sovereignty Ireland
Rachel Dempsey, Lourdes Youth & Community Centre
Andrew Douglas, Urban Farm
Louise Fitzgerald, Young Friends of the Earth
Thais Montovani, Latin American Solidarity Centre
Joe Murray, Afri
Michael O’Brien, Policy Officer, Trocaire
LIGHT LUNCH PROVIDED FOR PRESENTERS
Theme 3: ‘Build’
2-3.30pm
Location: Callan Hall, South Campus of Maynooth University..
Build: Short documentary, followed by discussion on creating alternative food futures in Ireland via initiating a national land trust, among other things.
Creating Alternative Food Futures is supported by: The Department of Geography, Maynooth University; The Department of Sociology, Maynooth University and Workshop Fund Maynooth University; AFRI; Food Sovereignty Ireland
This one-day event aims to:
– educate audiences about cracks in the food system
– boost the profile of food sovereignty as a framework for creating alternative food futures
– raise awareness of innovative current practices in Ireland and beyond
– inspire students and others to critically appraise alternative food futures
– prompt discussion and debate about the future of food
– facilitate new connections between a diverse range of attendees and participants
The event’s objectives are:
– to facilitate discussion of academic expertise regarding alternative food futures
– to engage civil society regarding contemporary alternative practices shaping food production and consumption
– to link and enable participants to network with others
Target audiences:
– University students interested in food futures in Ireland and beyond
– Food sector practitioners (producers and consumers)
– Food sector activists
– General public
Google Map available here: https://tinyurl.com/zd5279p
Please confirm attendance by emailing foodsovmaynooth@gmail.com
See brochure here: Food Sovereignty Assembly 2017
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