THIRD WORLD NETWORK INFORMATION SERVICE ON SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Dear Friends and Colleagues
Seven Calls to Transform Food Systems
In June 2021, the Global Alliance for the Future of Food released seven calls for action for a transition towards more sustainable food systems. These Calls to Action address the critical underlying structures that hold back much-needed food systems transformation. The Calls are briefly summarized below:
#1: ENSURE INCLUSIVE, PARTICIPATORY GOVERNANCE
Ensure participatory, integrated, rights-based approaches to governance at all levels in order to address the structural inequities in food systems. Build processes and policy platforms on principles of transparency, inclusive participation, and shared power.
#2: INCREASE RESEARCH FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD
Increase research in systems-based approaches, with an emphasis on indivisible ecological, health, social, and economic goals. Recognize and learn from diverse knowledge systems and ways of knowing, including Indigenous Peoples and farmers.
#3: ACCOUNT FOR EXTERNALITIES
Recognize the environmental, social, and health impacts of food systems policies and practices, and use this understanding to inform decision-making. Mainstream and strengthen True Cost Accounting and other impact assessment tools and methodologies to mitigate risk and increase accountability.
#4: DIRECT PUBLIC FINANCE & POLICY
Direct public sector finance and fiscal policy toward regenerative and ecologically beneficial forms of farming, healthy food, and resilient livelihoods and communities. Break from harmful subsidy and incentive programs, initiating well-designed and durable reforms through collaborations between governments, farmers, banks and corporations, researchers, and other stakeholders.
#5: UNLOCK PRIVATE & MULTILATERAL INVESTMENT
Unlock investment opportunities in sustainable food systems and align private, philanthropic, and multilateral funders with national actors for greater impact. Redirect financial flows of philanthropy, investors, banks, and donor agencies away from harmful practices and toward initiatives that are incentivizing, accelerating, and amplifying food systems transformations.
#6: ENABLE AGROECOLOGY & REGENERATIVE APPROACHES
Create enabling environments for agroecology and regenerative approaches to flourish. Ensure a systems approach centering on a strong role for local institutions, communities, smallholder farmers, Indigenous Peoples, and women; the protection and expansion of rights; policy coherence and coordinated governance; research mobilization; plus investment and funding for infrastructure.
#7: PROMOTE NUTRITIOUS, SUSTAINABLE, WHOLE-FOOD DIETS
Promote nutritious, whole-food diets underpinned by sustainable, diversified food production adapted to local ecosystems and sociocultural contexts. Create positive food environments that provide equitable access, dietary guidance, and controls on ultra-processed foods. These approaches will support dietary shifts toward whole foods and sustainable, minimally processed plant-based, animal and aquatic proteins.
To understand how the Calls to Action can be acted upon, accompanying “Beacons of Hope” initiatives showcase the groundswell of people transforming food systems in dynamic and creative ways, providing evidence that transformation is possible.
The document is available at: https://futureoffood.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/GA_C2A_JUN2021.pdf
With best wishes,
Third World Network
131 Jalan Macalister
10400 Penang
Malaysia
Email: twn@twnetwork.org
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