Climate Justice Universities Union All-Ireland Spring Meeting

THEME: Sustainable Food Systems – What is the role of universities in making Ireland’s food system more sustainable?

Join the Climate Uni for an in-person spring meeting in TUS Athlone on Tuesday the 17th February. Topics including sustainable diets, regenerative farming, green procurement, food education and research will be explored on the day with expert input and roundtable discussions. Everyone interested in sustainable food systems, climate justice and higher education are welcome.

This event is being organised collaboratively by CJUU, TUS and Green Foundation Ireland. This event is free to attend and lunch will be provided.

The final part of the day will be dedicated to planning action and next steps in this areas as well as facilitating CJUU working groups to meet.

Focus of working groups include scholar activism, education, Irish language, AI and tech justice.

Please register here.

Confirmed speakers on the day include Talamh Beo, Ruth Hegarty and Lisa Fingleton.

Ruth Hegarty

Ruth Hegarty is Director of Food Policy Ireland, a platform for research, advocacy, and action towards healthy, sustainable and fair food systems, and has worked in sustainable food systems and food policy for over two decades. Ruth holds a Masters in Food Policy from City, University of London and a Masters in European Economic & Public Affairs from UCD. Currently Ruth is campaigning for better school meals in Ireland, that can support health, environment and local economies, and for public food procurement as an important lever in shifting us towards healthy sustainable food systems.

Linkedin / Instagram: @ruthhegartyfoodpolicy @foodpolicyireland

Lisa Fingleton

Lisa Fingleton is an artist, writer and grower who has spent over twenty years cultivating deep-rooted connections between art, food and farming. Her projects incorporate socially engaged, collaborative and connections between art, food and farming. Her projects incorporate socially engaged, collaborative and performative process; participatory moving image; large scale drawing installations; as well as creative and autobiographical writing.

Grounded on a nineteen acre organic farm and woodlands on the west coast of Ireland, she and her partner Rena Blake run an eco social arts project called ‘The Barna Way’. From here they engage with the diverse community groups through social farming and live food and cultural events, while protecting habitats for wildlife. This project is propelled by an accelerated sense of urgency around food insecurity, the climate crisis, biodiversity loss and forced migration.