Food at the Heart of Our Society: a prospectus for change

 

A conference on 27th January at Hillsborough Castle, hosted and coordinated by FoodNI and curated by OCC, will consider how transformation of Northern Ireland’s food system could achieve positive outcomes for public health, the natural environment and local economic development.

 

The Northern Ireland Executive has published a wide ranging Food Strategy Framework that sets out a vision for ‘a transformed food system that protects and enhances natural resources for future generations, is environmentally sustainable, economically ambitious and provides safe, nutritionally balanced, accessible food for all.’

The Food Strategy Framework signals a radical change to food policy for Northern Ireland, which for the first time will formally link food, health, the economy and the natural environment. It requires policy alignment and effective collaboration across multiple government departments, to address a wide range of complex societal issues.

Over the last four months, FoodNI supported by OCC, has hosted a series of ‘dialogues’ for those who are shaping the region’s food and drinks sectors. Farmers, producers, distributors, chefs, retailers and educators have come together to explore opportunities presented by the Food Strategy Framework.

 

Emerging themes from dialogues include:

Prioritisation. Given the breadth of the food strategy framework and the complexity of the food system, agreeing a limited number of priorities for action will be essential. Addressing children’s health, education and impacts on the natural environment, through significant adaptations to the food system, are considered priorities.

Collaboration. Changes to the food system, resulting in positive outcomes for society, will be dependent on well-coordinated and enthusiastic collaboration across the food system, from farmers and producers, to chefs and retailers.

Evidence-based approach. Credible base-line data (e.g. on children’s health or environmental challenges) should inform decision-making, and reliable evidence should be used to track progress.

Learning from elsewhere. Food system transition in Northern Ireland should be informed by successful practice from elsewhere in the UK and overseas.

 

Forthcoming conference:

Providing an opportunity for continued discussion on the implications of the Food Strategy Framework, the conference will also lay the groundwork for its implementation.

Contributors will share perspectives on how best to transform local food systems in ways that deliver positive outcomes for society and natural ecosystems. They will explore what it will take to establish Northern Ireland as a world-class food and drink destination, known not only for the quality of its produce, but also its commitment to improving children’s health through widening access to nutritious food, creating a business environment in which independent producers can thrive and helping biodiversity flourish.

Contributors will be in conversation with Donald Sloan, Chair of the Oxford Cultural Collective.

Andrew Muir MLA, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, will share his hopes for the impact of Northern Ireland’s radical shift in food policy.

Michele Shirlow, CEO of Food NI, will provide an overview of the successful dialogues on Northern Ireland’s food system, held over the last four months at Hillsborough Castle.

Chef, broadcaster and campaigner Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall and presenter of the BBC Radio 4 Food Programme, Sheila Dillon, will consider how adaptations to food systems can enrich society.

Brothers Angus and Charlie Buchanan-Smith, founders of The Free Company, a regenerative farm, restaurant and community hub near Edinburgh, will reflect on their own success and on Scotland’s growing movement for ethical food production.

Beth Bell, Deputy Director of the Food Ethics Council, Clare McGinn, writer and broadcasting executive, and Jack Hamilton, CEO of Mash Direct, will consider how adaptations to Northern Ireland’s food system could lead to improved public health outcomes.

 

 

Hillsborough Castle – a note from Mark Larmour CBE, Strategic Partnerships Advisor

The choice of location for the conference is significant. Hillsborough Castle has proven itself to be a catalyst for change over hundreds of years and has become more than just another noteworthy historic house. It stands as a testament to the power of dialogue and reconciliation and continues to be the venue for discussions on important issues facing Northern Ireland.  Hillsborough Castle has, since 2014, been the responsibility of the charity Historic Royal Palaces, which also looks after other iconic properties including the Tower of London and Hampton Court.