The annual Farming For Nature Network day will be held on Saturday 28^th October 2023 in Gort, Co. Galway as part of the Burren Winterage Weekend 2023 (The October Bank Holiday).
This will be a day of talks and panel discussions held between 10.30am-3.30pm, followed by the annual Farming For Nature Ambassador Awards from 4-5pm, and then a cultural event from 6-7pm. 
This event allows us to come together to celebrate farmers across Ireland who are striving to work alongside nature, and to share ideas on how these great custodians might best be supported at a time of great challenge and opportunity.

All farmers and other interested parties who want to be part of this discussion and learn more about farming for nature are welcome to attend.

Draft Outline

The 2023 Farming For Nature Gathering

Saturday 28^th October (10.30am-7pm) Gort Town Hall (Eircode H91 E0C8)

10.30am– 11am Registration/ Tea & coffee in Gort Town Hall
Join us for tea/coffee.

11am– 12pm Welcome followed by a discussion on Agri policy & economics
FFN Welcome followed by a discussion on how current policy and economics is/will influence and impact at farm level. Led by Dr James Moran (GMIT) and Dr Lawrence Dooley (UCC)

12pm-1.15pm Panel 1: Building Resilience: adapting to a rapidly changing world

We are undoubtedly in a period of unprecedented change and challenge, particularly for farmers. As a food exporter, Ireland is very exposed to global markets – and the pandemics, wars and supply chain issues that affect them. Farmers are also the focus of rapidly evolving EU policy and national ‘sustainability’ strategies. Climate change is bringing droughts and floods and increased unpredictability. So how can individual farmers build resilience in the face of these ongoing changes?

Farming For Nature Ambassadors & Panellists:
Cathal O Rourke (Direct selling)
Kim McCall (Nature based solutions – ponds, woodlands etc)
Gearoid Maher (Cutting costs)
Mona Muller (Diversifying income streams)
Chaired by farmer and journalist Hannah Quinn Mulligan (5 mins each with Q&A with the audience)

1.15pm-2.15pm Lunch provided

2.15pm-3.30pm Panel 2: Farming & social sustainability: the forgotten pillar?

With the focus on the economic and environmental sustainability of farming, are we in danger of eroding the social sustainability of a sector which is the lifeblood of rural Ireland? Dol efficiency-based solutions to climate, increased incentives for forestry and the growing interest in rewilding pose a risk for farming communities and cultures? Do we undervalue the contribution farmers can make in terms of community health and wellbeing?

Farming For Nature Ambassadors & Panellists:
Tommy Earley (Social farming)
Fergal Smith (Community gardening)
Colm Gavin ((The importance of the hill farm)
Kate Egan (Feeding the community)
Chaired by Dr Brendan Dunford (5 mins each – followed by Q&A with the audience)

3.30pm-4pm Break

4pm-5pm The Annual Farming For Nature Ambassador Awards
Meet and celebrate our ten new Farming For Nature Ambassadors for 2023. Event is chaired by broadcaster, Ella McSweeney. Supported by Bord Bia.

5pm-6pm Free time

6pm-7pm Cultural event in Gort Town Hall – Poetry, authors and visual artists - more details to come.

7.30pm (Gathering in local hotel for meet/greet/rubgy watching)

Sunday 29^th October - Community Cattle Drive

The Annual Community Cattle Drive & Food Fayre. Booking required, book here. Details to come. Don’t forget the hour change!


Booking:
€15 for a day ticket (includes panel discussions, awards & cultural event). This nominal change is to help us prevent no-shows and to contribute to the unfunded cost of Farming For Nature in hosting this event.
Capacity in Gort Town Hall: 100 people

Burren Winterage Weekend:
Details of other events happening at the Burren Winterage Weekend can be found on www.burrenwinterage.com. Booking on this Farming For Nature network day does not necessary give entry to other events over the weekend. Please see the booking details of these events on the above site.