Food Matters presenter, Michael Kelly(centre,) with Pat and John Lalor of Kilbeggan Oats.

New series 'Food Matters' visits organic oat farm in Kilbeggan

Olga Aughey

Published: Wed 15 Mar 2023, 12:32 PM

Last updated: Wed 15 Mar 2023, 12:37 PM

FOOD MATTERS is a brand new RTÉ One series which uncovers Ireland's food sustainability, and explores how the food system is a major contributor to the climate change emergency.

Presented by GIY (Grow it Yourself) founder Michael Kelly, this brand new six-part series sees Michael travelling throughout the country, meeting farmers, food producers, food experts, climate experts and chefs.

He also talks to economists, ecologists and activists as he digs deep to uncover the complexity of the Irish food system and how it works, delivers and impacts the environment.

"The food system is a major contributor to the climate emergency, and the choices we make each day around food can be some of the most compelling pieces of climate action we can take in our lives", says Michael.

Michael learns how nutrient enhancing soil on an organic oat farm in Kilbeggan, County Westmeath, is proving very successful in the production of Kilbeggan Oats for farmers Pat and John Lalor.

"There are inspiring solutions to the problems in our food system happening right under our noses. In Food Matters I travel around Ireland exploring these issues and meeting the people and projects that can help change the food system, one meal at a time".

Food Matters is filmed at Grow HQ in Waterford, the home of GIY, as well as on location in counties Cork, Kildare, Dublin, Westmeath, Kerry, Meath, Wicklow, Tipperary, Limerick, Kilkenny and Wexford.

In this first episode, titled 'Love Soil', Michael travels to West Cork to visit Dr Steve Collins, a pioneer of regenerative agriculture, who is farming on the side of a mountain, and managing to grow a superfood in bad soil.

Michael then heads to Kildare to meet 4th generation Athy farmer Colm Flynn who started to think differently when it comes to his soil, and rehabilitated his soil using biological solutions.

Presenter Michael Kelly visits Athy farmer Colm Flynn.

In Kilbeggan, Westmeath, Michael learns how nutrient enhancing soil on an organic oat farm is proving very successful in the production of Kilbeggan Oats for farmers Pat and John Lalor.

Michael completes this first episode with a visit to Cork where Brian McCarthy of Cork Rooftop Farm is working on a potential future solution to urban growing, in a surprisingly different garden on a rooftop.

FOOD MATTERS is produced by David Hare of InProductionTV and Scéal Creative for RTE, and supported by the EPA Stop Food Waste and ReThink Ireland campaign.