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READ MORE BELOW The festival Sustainable Hub presented by Kilkenny Leader Partnership was at the core of the weekend’s discussions where organisers and curators Maura Brennan of The Acorn Project and environmental academic and activist Sadhbh O’Neill along with Kilkenny Leader Partnership led two days of exploration and ideas on crucial issues. Farmers, local producers and national voices from inside and outside the sector were invited as contributors. “As Irish people, we all love our food,” said Academic and activist Sadhbh O’ Neill. “We are also conscious that environmental quality has long been central to the success of Irish food exports, and yet at home, our biodiversity, water and climate challenges are mounting. We need this honest debate and discussion about how the Irish agricultural model can become sustainable. The sector has a vital contribution to make towards ensuring the land and environment we pass on to our children is in good health.” Taking the Sustainable Development Goals as a focus, Kilkenny Leader Partnership organised and sponsored the Sustainable Hub as part of Savour Kilkenny. The hub featured a curated programme of engaging speakers and contributors discussing a range of topics focused on sustainable living, tackling the climate crisis and future proofing our food systems. Festival Chairperson Ger Mullally described the inclusion of this new section of the festival as timely: “Over the 16 years of our festival, we have always led the way in terms of innovation and new thinking in the food sector, both locally and nationally,” he said. “We have consistently championed artisan, organic and progressive food producers. At the same time, we have celebrated the best of what our extensive local food sector produces, in what is, in many ways, the heartland of our country’s food industry.” The Sustainable Hub was sponsored by Kilkenny Leader Partnership. See www.savourkilkenny.com.
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