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1. Ireland 2nd in the world for food security, but hugely dependent on imports

2. Large food export industry but mainly focused on meat and dairy

3. Therefore, supply chain resilience is low

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1. Consumption patterns / eating habits and trends

2. Affordability

3. Effects of urbanisation on food production

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1. What sort of crops are being grown

2. Future plans and policy direction in livestock and fisheries

3. Climate change impacts on Agriculture

4. Competition for water, energy and land

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Multinational agribusinesses dictate food production, favoring monocultures (e.g., dairy exports) over diverse, local food systems

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Over 80% of Ireland’s food is imported, creating vulnerability to climate, trade, and financial shocks

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EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and Irish policies prioritise export-oriented production (e.g., dairy) over food security and sustainability

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Land consolidation

Small farmers displaced

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Community gardens

Urban agriculture

Small-scale organic farming

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National food sovereignty strategy (e.g., public procurement of local food, land access for allotments)

CAP reform to prioritise agroecology and smallholders

Advocacy for democratic control of food systems

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This huge reliance on imports means that Ireland's food security is an illusion - a significant disruption in supply chains would be almost entirely out of Ireland's control, and have devastating impact on its food supply

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Most bread sold in Ireland is made in Ireland - but using what? The flour used to make "Irish" bread is mainly imported from the UK... which itself uses significant amounts of Canadian & US wheat. If North American combines stop harvesting, or global shipping grinds to a halt, or post-Brexit tariffs force even higher flour prices - what happens to Irish bread production?

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The global development narrative focuses heavily on food security above all else, at both a policy and direct intervention/investment level, contributing to the food security illusion.

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MNCs driving consumer consumption preferences

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MNCs driving consumer consumption preferences

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Many MNC agribusinesses are vertically integrated across the supply chain, influencing consumer demand towards UHP products drawing on their vertically integrated control and increasing global interconnectedness of food supply

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MNCs driving consumer food consumption preferences

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Recognition of food sovereignty vs food security

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Recognition of food sovereignty vs food security

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Food sovereignty focuses on local control of food production, to alleviate systems risk inherent in global food supply systems that 'classic' food security relies on

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(1) reduce reliance on food imports - use policy & incentives; (2) transform farmland use - majority of farmland used for pasture (for beef/dairy exports); redirect subsidies to support mixed use farming, promote land access for new entrants; (3) decentralise food processing - eg develop community-scale processing hubs, like olive oil cooperatives in eg France, Greece; (4) strengthen local distribution and retail - expand farmers markets & food cooperatives, support digital platforms for direct-to-consumer food sales; (5) re-empower consumers & communities - public campaigns, food education inc in schools; (6) reform policy & governance - eg develop national food sovereignty strategy; shift CAP implementation to prioritise local food systems; (7) revalue ecosystem services - reframe agriculture as ecosystem stewardship, pay famers for ecosystem services eg soil carbon, biodiversity, water retention.

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Labour & skills shortages in Irish agriculture

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Labour & skills shortages in Irish agriculture

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Aging farming population: over half of Irish landowners are over 55, with only 6.2% under 35. Many older farmers lack successors, hindering land mobility and generational renewal.

Skill gaps and sector attractiveness: challenges in attracting qualified workers due to low wages, long hours, and limited career prospects.

Dependence on migrant labour: hiring of non-EU workers in roles such as dairy farm assistants and meat processing operatives

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Irish farms viability & economic pressures

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Irish farms viability & economic pressures

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Rising operational costs: farmers face increasing input costs and regulatory pressures, with dairy farmers particularly affected. These challenges impact profitability and long-term viability.

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Existing Food Sovereignty initiatives in Ireland

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Existing Food Sovereignty initiatives in Ireland

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Talamh Beo

A grassroots, farmer-led organization advocating for food, fuel, and fibre sovereignty. Affiliated with La Via Campesina and focus on policies that benefit small-scale farmers and rural communities.

Grow It Yourself Ireland

A non-profit social enterprise encouraging individuals and communities to grow their own food. GIY supports over 80 local groups across Ireland and runs campaigns like "Get Ireland Growing" to promote community food growing and reduce food waste.

Irish Seed Savers Association

Dedicated to preserving Ireland's agricultural biodiversity, this organization maintains a seed bank with over 600 non-commercially available varieties.

FoodCloud

A Dublin-based social enterprise that tackles food waste by redistributing surplus food from businesses to charities. Since its inception, FoodCloud has redistributed over 360 million meals and aims to reach a billion by 2030.

Feeding Ourselves Gathering

An annual event held in Cloughjordan Ecovillage, bringing together farmers, activists, and policymakers to discuss agroecology, local food economies, and rural resilience. The gathering fosters collaboration and the development of strategies to strengthen Ireland's food sovereignty.

Seed Sovereignty Programme – Ireland

Part of a broader UK and Ireland initiative, this program supports growers in saving and exchanging seeds, building networks, and promoting seed sovereignty. It addresses the fragility of seed systems highlighted by events like Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic.