Food sovereignty

Food sovereignty is a term coined by members of La Via Campesina in 1996 to advocate for the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems. It presents an alternative to the current industrial and globalized food systems, emphasizing the interests and inclusion of local producers.

Local Autonomy: Food sovereignty emphasizes the right of local communities to control their own food systems, including markets, ecological resources, food cultures, and modes of production.

Empowerment of Small-scale Producers: It advocates for the empowerment of small and medium-scale producers, including farmers, pastoralists, fisherfolk, and indigenous people, to sustain their livelihoods and communities.

Agroecology: The movement promotes agroecological practices that work with natural systems for farming instead of the high-input and energy-intensive practices of industrial agriculture. This includes polycultures, agroforestry, and conservation agriculture.

Sustainable Management of Resources: Food sovereignty calls for the sustainable management of natural resources like land, water, seeds, and biodiversity, which are often threatened by large-scale industrial agriculture and corporate interests.

Cultural Relevance: It respects and values the cultural traditions of different peoples and their relationship with food, recognizing the cultural dimension of food systems.

Right to Food: Food sovereignty extends the concept of food security to include the right to nutritious and culturally appropriate food, emphasizing that food is a basic human right rather than a commodity.

Fair Trade: It supports fair trade policies that prioritize local food economies and fair prices for producers over international trade agreements that often benefit large agribusinesses and multinational corporations.

Democratizing Food Systems: The movement seeks to democratize food systems by advocating for more equitable distribution of power in the global food system, including decision-making around food policy and practices.

Resisting Globalization: Food sovereignty often involves resistance to neoliberal policies and globalization that can undermine local food systems and economies, advocating for policies that protect local markets and food cultures.

Community Action and Solidarity: It encourages community action and solidarity, fostering cooperation and mutual aid among food producers and between producers and consumers.

Gender Equity: Recognizing the pivotal role of women in food production and family nutrition, food sovereignty includes a strong focus on promoting gender equity in all aspects of the food system.

Education and Training: The movement emphasizes the importance of education and training in sustainable agriculture practices, as well as raising awareness about the impacts of current food systems on communities and the environment.

Policy Advocacy: Advocates of food sovereignty engage in policy advocacy to influence agricultural policy at local, national, and international levels to support the rights of small-scale producers and sustainable, equitable food systems.