SATURDAY 25th March 

10.00 – Voices from the field:  Breakfast session sharing stories of where we are at and a facilitated discussion on emerging practice. 

11.30 – Feeding Ourselves. Growing a stronger movement   

Where are we at?  Where do we want to go?  How do we get there?
Strengthening the solidarity food movement on the island and supporting a regenerative and more resilient way to nourish the land and feed ourselves. 

14.00 – Break out sessions 

• Community Supported Agriculture 

• Diversity in Agriculture  

• Policy Weaving – agri-food rural, environmental

• Textiles from seed to fibre

• Digitalisation – OFN Platform  

• Soil and Biodiversity – findings from research

15.30 – Connecting with Europe – 

A blended session held with Forum Synergies, with online participants joining from across Europe. With Short Stories from the book ‘Rural Europe Takes Action – No More Business as Usual’. 

Balkan Seeds Network – The story of a network of scientists and seed savers’ organisations tapping into the rich biodiversity and agricultural heritage of South Eastern Europe to stimulate resilient food systems

Plessé – Faced with the urgent threat of encroaching mega farms, the municipality of Plessé in France decided to take agricultural affairs into their own hands
Food Hubs – Food hubs have emerged as a successful model to promote the aggregation, value addition, distribution, and marketing of local food. 

Woman in Agriculture – Envisioning what gender equality looks like in agriculture and how inequality prevents women bringing their perspective and experience to the discussion, design and implementation of all things food, farming and rural living.

16.45 – Plenary / Keynote Reflections 

Rural Ireland takes Action – 4 north Tipperary farmers diversifying, driven by environmental care

Sean O Farrell (beef, poultry, pork, biodiversity, education, social farming) 

Mimi Crawford (dairy, poultry, pork; regenerative agriculture and dairy direct selling)

Ailbhe Gerard (sheep, forestry, honey, education/climate action)

Maurice Deacy (cereals, heritage grains, on-farm brewery) 

Sharing insights and reflections from the first day with ARC2020

Saturday Evening  

20.00 – SpeakEATsy – Join us for the evening extravaganza that is the one and only SpeakEATsy, a unique evening of live music, poetry, amazing food, a compelling conversation and DJs to finish.

SUNDAY 26th March 

Four strands of activity over the day, all starting and ending together. 

10.00 – Breakfast Check In
11.15 – 4 Options 

STRAND 1 – Just Transition Deep listening to farmers and their concerns, in a context of targets for GHG emissions reductions and other environmental legislation.   

STRAND 2 – Food Hubs in the Rural Economy and their role in the Just Transition
STRAND 3 – Seeds and natural dyes workshop and photo exhibition
STRAND 4 – Intro to syntropic agroforestry 

13.00 – Lunch
14.00 – 4 Options 

STRAND 1 – Another Rural Is Possible. Policy check-in – Talamh Beo, Environmental Pillar and others present policy ideas for feedback

STRAND 2 – What is next for the Feeding Ourselves Network.
STRAND 3 – Community Seed Banks with Kevin Dudley
STRAND 4 – A RED Gardens Experience with Bruce Darrell 

15.30 – Feeding Ourselves Final Session – Weaving it all together 

16.30 – Farm Visits – Options on the way home 

For booking go to www.cultivate.ie if you have any problems in registering e-mail or any queries contact. info@cultivate.ie   

 #FeedingOurselves23