10.00 – Voices from the field
Breakfast session sharing stories of where we are at and a facilitated discussion on what is emerging for regenerative, community-led, solidarity food initiatives.

11.30 – Feeding Ourselves. Growing a stronger movement
Strengthening the solidarity food movement on the island and supporting a regenerative and more resilient way to nourish the land and feed ourselves. Ruth Hegerty leads a conversation on the future of the Feeding Ourselves Network.

14.00 – Break out sessions

• • Community Supported Agriculture
    CSA Ireland leads a conversation on the opportunities and challenges of this partnership approach between farmers and the local community.
  • Diversity in Agriculture
    A conversation on what gender equality looks like in agriculture and how we guarantee this right for all vulnerable farm and land workers.
  • Policy Weaving
    Oliver Moore leads a conversation with partner organisations, identifying synergy and increasing cohesion between different policy matters.
  • Textiles from Seeds to Fibre
    Round table discussion hosted by Seeds4All about seed production for rural development and resilience / in relation to textile production in Ireland
  • Digitalisation – Open Food Network (OFN)
    Evonne Boland of OFN Ireland leads a conversation introducing Climate Action and Local Food, a new initiative with Sonairte and other partners developing regional food hubs using the OFN digital platform.
  • Soil and Biodiversity
    Sharing the findings of Talamh Beo’s Soil Biodiversity Literacy & Enhancement EIP Project

15.30 – Connecting with Europe with Forum Synergies

Initiatives from the book “Rural Europe Takes Action – No more business as usual” will share how they contribute to the local food economy.

Plessé municipality will show how elected people & citizens decided to take agricultural affairs into their own hands in order to maintain the village farming activity.

Balkan Seeds Network, 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 and transnational cooperation.

Food Hubs: Food hubs and the digital platforms like Open Food Network have emerged as a powerful way to enable the aggregation, value addition, distribution, and marketing of local food, Cloughjordan Community Farm tells the story of their Food Hub and DESIRA Living lab.

Woman in Agriculture: Talamh Beo the Irish Land Workers Alliance are 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.

Register here to virtually participate in the webinar!

16.45 – Rural Ireland takes Action
Four North Tipperary farmers diversifying, driven by environmental care, share their stories.

• • 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)

Final Reflections
ARC2020, the European platform for organisations working together for good food, good farming and better rural policies. Share insights and reflections from the first day.

Saturday Evening
19.00 – 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. Here you’ll gain a peak of that. Not enough? Have another one!