Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue has launched a new three-year strategy for Sustainable Food Systems Ireland (SFSI).
SFSI is a government initiative which offers Ireland’s experience and expertise in transforming food and agriculture systems to partner countries.
The consortium was established in 2014 in response to requests from Ireland’s international partners for assistance with the safety, security and sustainability of their food systems.
Sustainable food systems
SFSI is a collaboration between the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and four agri-food State organisations – Teagasc, Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).
The initiative undertakes capability-building projects in Africa, Middle East, the European Union and Asia.
Between now and 2027, SFSI will aim to build on progress in designing and implementing programmes of change and transformation with global clients to strengthen sustainable food systems.
The group will help to deliver Food Vision 2030 by linking Ireland’s domestic policy and its development cooperation and foreign policy.
In the coming years, SFSI will also create a structure and resource base for delivery of Irish expertise globally.
Launching the new strategy, Minister McConalogue said that Ireland is “a world leader in its inclusive systems-based approach to developing and implementing strategies for the agri-food sector”.
“In practical terms, Ireland’s expertise in areas like risk-based food safety, quality and traceability can be shared with our partners to strengthen their own food systems, leading to better outcomes globally.
“The principles and approaches, experience and skills we have learned, and are still learning on our own journey towards sustainability can be applied in different contexts.
“Through SFSI, we can build stronger relationships globally and address common problems,” the minister added.
The minister acknowledged the challenges the world faces – to feed more than nine billion people and to slow global warming to 1.5°C above the pre-industrial period by 2050.
“Transformation of our food systems can deliver positive outcomes which are critically important in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, our 2050 targets and other environmental and biodiversity goals.
“I welcome the new SFSI Statement of Strategy for 2024 to 2027, which promises to build on SFSI’s achievements to date and sets out its ambition to contribute to the sustainability of Ireland’s and our global partners’ food systems,” he said.