Is it not the case that we have many organisations promoting, safe guarding, supporting and educating us on all things, food? Is it a lack of joined-up thinking? Everyone operating in silos? Sounds like a simple budgeting issue to me in that an allocation has not been made for the objectives you set out with none of the existing organisations given the role and responsibility to be accountable for and implement them. Food culture encapsulates so much that I'm not sure any one organisation could do it justice! As you've pointed out there are major gaps in funding. Maybe an agreed definition of 'food culture' should be at the center of the guiding principles that govern these organisations.
I fully support every point you make here. Successive governments have been reactionary to events instead of having a strategic outlook, it always baffles me as to why since the foundation of the state ( a late foundation for obvious reasons and a serious endeavor) we haven’t looked to other countries and learned from them and then put a strategy in place. The fact that there are so few farmers like you mentioned is a stark point that needs to be decried to our Politicians. I live in the Countryside where I am lucky to know where my meat, dairy and vegetables come from( down the road in lots of cases). It is always remarked upon by friends from other Countries on how think our Milk and beef are the best in the world and we should be prouder of that and more protective of it.
Fascinating piece Jp … as an artist and as someone who cooks, eats and reads about food (recipes, culture and heritage) I’m always exploring ideas in how we can improve discussion and engagement with many of these ideas and issues … thanks for sharing
Having worked with Bord Bia over the past 10 years through Food on the Edge, it is clear their brief is monetary and not culturally orientated. State bodies regarding food and tourism are now in a self indulgent loop of supporting their own projects and ignoring their peers in the industry.
Is it not the case that we have many organisations promoting, safe guarding, supporting and educating us on all things, food? Is it a lack of joined-up thinking? Everyone operating in silos? Sounds like a simple budgeting issue to me in that an allocation has not been made for the objectives you set out with none of the existing organisations given the role and responsibility to be accountable for and implement them. Food culture encapsulates so much that I'm not sure any one organisation could do it justice! As you've pointed out there are major gaps in funding. Maybe an agreed definition of 'food culture' should be at the center of the guiding principles that govern these organisations.
I fully support every point you make here. Successive governments have been reactionary to events instead of having a strategic outlook, it always baffles me as to why since the foundation of the state ( a late foundation for obvious reasons and a serious endeavor) we haven’t looked to other countries and learned from them and then put a strategy in place. The fact that there are so few farmers like you mentioned is a stark point that needs to be decried to our Politicians. I live in the Countryside where I am lucky to know where my meat, dairy and vegetables come from( down the road in lots of cases). It is always remarked upon by friends from other Countries on how think our Milk and beef are the best in the world and we should be prouder of that and more protective of it.
Came across this CFP this morning, whilst not exactly what you were discussing in this piece, it did make me think of your writing and thought you might find it interesting: https://www.irishhumanities.com/events/call-for-papers-iha-annual-conference-2025/
Fascinating piece Jp … as an artist and as someone who cooks, eats and reads about food (recipes, culture and heritage) I’m always exploring ideas in how we can improve discussion and engagement with many of these ideas and issues … thanks for sharing
The government would argue that Bord Bia do all of the above (I don’t agree btw).
Having worked with Bord Bia over the past 10 years through Food on the Edge, it is clear their brief is monetary and not culturally orientated. State bodies regarding food and tourism are now in a self indulgent loop of supporting their own projects and ignoring their peers in the industry.