Reasons to enroll in our 6 Week Sustainable Food Programme
Be part of a team with a shared passion
Everyone who works at Ballymaloe Cookery School feels passionate about food. We are interested in every aspect of food and this enthusiasm makes for an exciting place to learn because students are immersed in a world that lives, breathes and, of course, grows and eats food!
We are passionate about sharing our 30 years expertise by inspiring and teaching people, with the aim of informing better choices for people and the planet. We’d love you to join us.
Diet is in a dire state
Malnutrition fueled by poor diet is on the rise. One in five people will be obese by 2025. Diabetes is now recognized as the world’s fastest growing chronic condition. Six of the top 11 risk factors driving the global burden of disease are related to diet. It’s clear that change is desperately needed.
The UN has announced A Decade of Action on Nutrition for this purpose and is calling on governments, organisations and communities to improve food systems and diets worldwide. We need to work together to make progress.
The current global food system is broken
The current global food system is broken. We need to act now to create a way of living and eating that can be sustained. For the long term.
‘How we produce, distribute and consume food will need to change toward more sustainable models if we want to address pressing global challenges like climate change, how to feed a growing population, and access to good food for all.’ Guillermo Castilleja, Chair, Global Alliance for the Future of Food
Stop food rationing becoming a new normal
Southern Europe experienced such poor growing conditions in early 2017 that there was a shortage of vegetables across Europe. Leading UK supermarkets imposed a cap on the amount of fresh produce people could buy.
Floods, storms and freezing conditions destroyed crops and prevented farmers from planting. The worst affected area, Murcia, had the coldest January for 11 years, while rainfall since October was the highest in 75 years.
Unsurprisingly, prices were pushed up, making it harder for people to access fresh vegetables. Get mucky with us and learn how to grow your own, seasonally. It’s great fun too!
Fight food waste
Around 88 million tonnes of food are wasted annually in the EU, with associated costs estimated at 143 billion euros. Wasting food is not only an ethical and economic issue but it also uses limited natural resources.
Every part of the food chain plays a role in reducing food waste – from growing to prepping to eating with waste management in mind at every stage. Transitioning to a more sustainable, circular food system is a key step in reducing our footprint.
Teach the next generation
1 in 7 children think fruit and vegetables originate in a supermarket according to a recent GIY survey. And 29% are not eating enough fruit and vegetables daily. GIY are now calling for food to be put on the curriculum to help educate children from the ground up.
Our children need to know about all aspects of food, these are vital life skills that helps them to enjoy food too.
"Millennials want to take control over the food they eat."
Expand your prospects
People will always eat, so jobs in producing, processing and selling food will never go away.
As our world population expands, so too will the demand for food from limited resources. There is greater need for skilled workers across many aspects of sustainable food systems. The perspective from America is captured in this Forbes article by Jeffrey Dorfman “Want A Job? Study Food And Agriculture”
We need more food and agriculture literate leaders
So much of our prospects depend on the food we eat and how it is made – our health, our vitality, our ability to concentrate and create. And good food is such a pleasure to enjoy!
Being food literate means understanding the impact of your food choices on your health, the environment, and our economy. Enabling more informed choices and better ideas which will lead to bold and innovative steps forward.
