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The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD, earlier this week addressed Food is the Future, a virtual event focussed on the role of young people in food systems, in advance of the UN Food Systems Summit, which took place on Thursday 23 September.

Minister McConalogue said that, “We need to facilitate the voices of youth to be heard and to allow them to fully participate in debates related to agriculture and food systems. Half the world is under 30. Policy makers and the leaders of today must identify new opportunities for the leaders of tomorrow to be actively engaged in enabling food systems transformation.”

Minister McConalogue also took the opportunity to highlight the role of education in food systems transformation, “We need to teach our young people in school about food, its composition, its nutritional values and its link to healthy diets and well-being. We also need to help our young people to understand the environmental, social and economic costs of food waste and food loss. Education and training is the key to bridging the growing disconnect between young people and the sustainable food production and consumption”.

Minister McConalogue also acknowledged the importance of youth organisations, such as Macra na Feirme in Ireland, which have a critical role to play in supporting the social, economic, cultural, personal development and well-being of young people in rural areas, including young farmers.
Minister McConalogue concluded: “The President of Ireland, His Excellency Michael D. Higgins, delivered Ireland’s national statement to the UN Food Systems Summit this week, in a speech which strongly reflected Ireland’s commitment to food systems transformation, both at home and across the world.”
“Food Vision 2030, sets an ambition for Ireland to become a world leader in sustainable food systems by 2030, and the Government is determined to support that ambition.”

Note for Editors:
The UN Food Systems Summit platform:
Link: Food Systems Summit | United Nations

Minister McConalogue has been directly involved in preparations for the Summit and participated in the Pre-Summit in Rome in July.
Link: gov.ie - Minister McConalogue delivers Ireland’s National Statement in Rome at the UN Food Systems Pre-Summit (www.gov.ie)

All Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine initiatives are undertaken as part of the Department’s Action Plan 2021, which is available at gov.ie - Statement of Strategy 2021 - 2024 (www.gov.ie)

ENDS