{"id":43662,"date":"2020-06-16T04:49:27","date_gmt":"2020-06-16T02:49:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/?p=43662"},"modified":"2020-06-16T04:49:27","modified_gmt":"2020-06-16T02:49:27","slug":"food-sovereignty-now-and-beyond-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/story\/43662\/food-sovereignty-now-and-beyond-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"Food sovereignty now and beyond COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

COVID-19 has changed daily realities in nearly every corner of the world. But for millions of people, fears about access to food have made the crisis even worse. Recently the UN warned of disruption to food supplies<\/a> and further loss of incomes and livelihoods<\/a> – up to 1.6 billion workers affected in the formal economy alone. Food banks and community organisations are doing their best to help those in immediate need. But as the pandemic collides with inequality and climate emergency, it’s clear we need major changes in our approach to food and agriculture.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

\"Ecological
Farmers in Kenya are effectively applying ecological farming practices that are increasing their ability to build resilience to and cope with climate change.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

The food system was broken long before coronavirus came along. The current crisis has exposed the fault-lines and renewed urgency to tackle root causes<\/a>. This means asking hard questions and digging deeper for solutions. How is it that 30% of food is wasted globally and unhealthy food is fuelling obesity<\/a> and diabetes, while 820 million people don\u2019t have enough to eat<\/a>? Why are millions being \u201cforced to choose between hunger or COVID-19<\/a>\u201d?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

The industrial and commodity-based food system has failed to adequately feed many people in this world. This isn\u2019t due to a lack of food but to the conditions of extreme inequality, and the wrong type of food being produced, traded or promoted by powerful corporate interests that control the food and agriculture sectors. COVID-19 has once again shown us just how risky it is to let corporations be in charge of feeding people. <\/p>\n\n

\"Ecological
Shopping at Raspail Market in central Paris. Raspail is one of the largest ecological markets in Paris.
\u00a9 Peter Caton \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Changing our food system<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

An alternative vision is gaining momentum \u2014 of a more collaborative, socially just and ecological food system, where communities have control and power over how it\u2019s shaped. As public money goes into economic recovery packages, some governments and organisations are pushing for systemic changes, so that communities can build back with greater resilience, better able to cope with future shocks. <\/p>\n\n

A resilient food system is an ecological food system<\/a>, designed to help people and the environment rather than make profits for multinational corporations. It supports food justice<\/a> \u2014 with \u201ccommunities exercising their right to grow, sell, and eat healthy food\u201d and acknowledging differences such as class, ethnicity, and gender in shaping solutions to meet their food needs. In some places, this transition<\/a> has already begun.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

Our right to food<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

We need a system that protects human rights, such as access to food and fair treatment and recognition for workers, and respects the ecological boundaries<\/a> we depend on. It\u2019s called food sovereignty<\/a>, and we all \u2014 local and national governments, international agencies and cities \u2014 must support the shift towards a sustainable food system<\/a> that can support us during the COVID crisis and beyond.<\/p>\n\n

\"Organic
Samnieng Huadlim, a 62 year old Thai farmer holds rice stalks harvested at Greenpeace\u2019s \u201cRice Art\u201d field in Ratchaburi province, Bangkok, Thailand.
\u00a9 Greenpeace \/ Athit Perawongmetha<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

To start, here\u2019s some of the things we should change in our current food system:<\/p>\n\n

  1. Food is a common good<\/strong>. Food should be considered an essential common good<\/strong><\/a>, not just another commodity, with principles like food sovereignty a part of all crisis recovery packages. The transition<\/a> to ecological food systems, away from industrial agriculture, is already happening in some parts of the planet \u2014 now it must be funded, amplified and mainstreamed.<\/li>
  2. All levels of government have a role. <\/strong>Countries and cities<\/a> need to be proactive in making sure that people have access to food so no-one is left behind. For example, Victoria<\/a>, Canada has assigned parks staff to start growing food for residents. Let\u2019s encourage city networks, like Milan Urban Food Policy Pact<\/a>, CityFood<\/a> and C40<\/a>, to make access to nutritious food better for all.\u00a0<\/li>
  3. Food justice<\/strong>. Food insecurity is linked to inequality, not lack of production. It\u2019s a question of justice. To ensure the right to healthy food for all, we need to adopt social measures like universal basic income to help tackle poverty and redistribute wealth.\u00a0<\/li>
  4. Essential workers are valued and compensated.<\/strong> To strengthen our capacity to cope with current and future shocks, we need to value all in the food industry as essential workers. People growing, producing, sharing, and distributing food should receive a decent income proportionate to their vital functions. Policies and rescue packages must invest in farmers, farm workers and other people who feed us, to enable a just transition<\/a> to a more ecologically and socially resilient food system. Taxes, subsidies, and procurement policies must be redirected to achieve these goals.<\/li>
  5. We use our power to accelerate change<\/strong>. In addition to holding governments to account, the changes we make at household level can shift how society values food and those producing food for the better.\u00a0<\/li><\/ol>\n\n
    \"Harvesting
    Children are harvesting vegetables grown organically at a farm in Tokyo, Japan.
    \u00a9 Kengo Yoda \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

    Here are practical actions we can take now as individual citizens for better food:<\/p>\n\n