Building Connections to Fight Against Food Waste: EU4Advice participated in Ireland’s Agri-Food System Workshop

The Sustainable Food Systems Policy Workshop, organized by the Irish Research project Food Resource Efficiency Decision Support (FRED), took place on the 17th of October, bringing together critical insights and solutions for Ireland’s food system. Davie Philip from Cultivate and Sarah Nolan from University College Dublin (UCD) represented EU4Advice, and engaged with a diverse group of 20 participants, including policymakers, policy advisors, and researchers. 

As part of Bioeconomy Ireland Week, this workshop provided a timely platform to share relevant results from these ongoing projects, furthering collaborative efforts toward a resilient and sustainable Irish food network.

This gathering provided a unique opportunity to discuss and present the objectives of the EU4Advice project, particularly the initiatives within the Irish Living Lab.

The event’s overarching theme revolved around food waste, a critical challenge affecting sustainability, the economy, and society. The event sought to explore innovative strategies and solutions that could be implemented across the agri-food sector by tackling this issue.

During the presentations, the goals of EU4Advice were highlighted, focusing on enhancing knowledge-sharing and capacity-building among stakeholders in the agricultural knowledge and innovation system (AKIS). 

The agenda included evaluating these needs within the broader food system stakeholder network, exploring the barriers and enablers affecting policy changes for a sustainable food system, and assessing how research can better support policymakers and policy implementers. This collaborative setting allowed participants to contextualize policy needs and identify strategic support for advancing sustainability in Ireland’s food systems.

Networking was crucial during the event, allowing participants to connect with relevant Irish stakeholders and explore opportunities for future project collaboration. The discussions highlighted the diverse perspectives of policymakers, researchers, and advisors, emphasizing the need for a coordinated effort to develop comprehensive policies that address food waste and food systems’ sustainability.

Moving forward, the insights gained will be instrumental in shaping the future activities of the EU4Advice project and ensuring responsiveness to the evolving needs of the agri-food sector in Ireland.