1st CIBUS Regional Stakeholder Meeting, BIA Innovator Campus

This evet is organized by Galway County Council on 26th of September 2024, at Bia Innovator Campus in Athenry, is a unique opportunity to connectkey figures across the food industry, public sector, and academia as we tackle one of the biggest challenges facing our food system today—food waste. Together, we will explore actionable solutions that will help us reduce food loss and waste across the supply chain, working towards the global goal of cutting food waste by 50% by 2030.

Why You Should Attend

This event is for anyone passionate about creating a sustainable future through smarter food systems. Whether you’re a food producer, policy maker, retailer, or community organizer, your voice matters. You’ll not only have the chance to meet like-minded individuals but also to contribute to shaping real, impactful solutions that can be implemented in your industry or community.

By attending, you’ll:

• Learn from industry leaders and innovators already making waves in food waste reduction.
• Gain practical strategies you can apply in your organization or projects.
• Build lasting partnerships that could change how we approach food waste in Ireland and beyond.

What to Expect

1. Welcome & Opening Remarks

Kicking off the day, we’ll hear from representatives of Galway County Council and Bia Innovator Campus. They’ll set the stage for the day's discussions, sharing insights into the CIBUS project’s core mission to reduce food loss and waste. You’ll get a sense of the urgency of this issue and why your participation matters.

2. Keynote: The Big Picture of Food Waste

Our keynote speaker from FoodCloud will dive into the current state of food waste, both globally and locally. Expect to hear success stories, new technologies, and what’s next in the push for sustainability in food systems. You’ll walk away with inspiration and a deeper understanding of how food waste impacts not just businesses, but communities and the environment.

3. Stakeholder Introductions & Networking

Here’s your chance to connect. You’ll meet food producers, retailers, local authorities, and others, sharing their insights and perspectives on food waste. These introductions are just the beginning of forming powerful partnerships that will extend beyond this event.

4. Breakout Session: Mapping Our Local Food Waste Challenge

We’ll break into smaller groups to dive into sector-specific challenges—whether in production, retail, or waste management. Working together, you’ll brainstorm new ideas and identify opportunities to reduce food waste in Galway and surrounding regions. These sessions are designed to spark collaboration and cross-sector innovation.

5. Group Presentations & Discussions

After the breakout sessions, each group will present their ideas and findings to the broader audience. This is where ideas get refined, shared, and brought to life. You’ll participate in shaping strategies that could be applied locally and even scaled up nationally.

6. Interactive Session: Designing Solutions That Work

With the groundwork laid, we’ll roll up our sleeves and work together to create practical, actionable strategies for reducing food waste. We’ll explore real-world tools and frameworks, helping ensure that the ideas discussed are implementable and can create meaningful change.

What’s In It For You?

Beyond the inspiring talks and the collaborative workshops, here’s what you’ll take away:

• New Connections: Meet key figures across the food industry, government, and non-profits, opening doors for collaboration.
• Fresh Ideas: You’ll leave with innovative solutions and proven strategies to help reduce food waste in your field.
• Practical Tools: We’ll share frameworks and best practices that can immediately be put to use in your business or community projects.
• Real Impact: Be part of creating tangible change in how we tackle food waste, helping to reduce environmental impact and improve sustainability.

Closing & What’s Next

We’ll wrap up the day by recapping the key outcomes and discussing the next steps. You’ll hear about future opportunities for collaboration, follow-up events, and how we’ll build on the momentum from this meeting. This is just the beginning of the work we’ll do together.

So why wait? Mark your calendar for September 26th and get ready to be part of something big. Whether you’re already working on food waste solutions or just starting to think about how to make an impact, this event is for you. Let’s come together, share ideas, and start creating real change.

We can’t wait to see you there!