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Tema de debate 1/8 - Sostenibilidad de los sistemas ganaderos Se plantearon 3 desafíos. El primero, cómo dar respuestas a los mercados internacionales respecto al rol de la ganadería, en particular la ganadería intensiva; el segundo, la necesidad de generar datos locales respecto a la emisión de GEI de la producción ganadera e información que permitan demostrar que la ganadería contribuye al secuestro de carbono y sobre los impactos del consumo de carne para la Salud Humana; y tercero, trabajar en la agenda de I+D a las necesidades de los productores según sus tamaños (Tecnologías a... Read morepropiadas) propiciando una mejora en sus ingresos. Para afrontar estos desafíos, se propusieron 6 acciones. El desarrollo de Sistemas de Intensificación Sostenibles para la reducción de GEI, que integren ganadería con producción de granos y silvicultura.; la incorporación de tecnología de precisión a la producción ganadera (Ganadería 4.0); la mejora en los sistemas de pastoreo para contribuir a la reducción de emisiones de GEI; el trabajo conjunto y asociativo para la extensión) entre productores e Instituciones de I+D para acceder a tecnología; el desarrollo de proyectos de innovación abiertos con actores del sector productivo para responder a sus demandas; y la creación de fondos de apoyo para el financiamiento de acciones de innovación. Read less

Tema de debate 2/8 - Intensificación Agrícola Sostenible El grupo planteó el desafío de adecuar los procesos de intensificación a las condiciones agroecológicas y los distintos tamaños del productor, de cada zona o región. También se mencionó la necesidad de democratizar el conocimiento vinculado a las políticas públicas con datos actualizados. y la necesidad de disminuir las pérdidas y agregar valor a la producción. Las acciones propuestas para atender estos desafíos refieren a hacer un mayor uso de las nuevas tecnologías para democratizar el conocimiento, dirigido a los difer... Read moreentes públicos, institucionalizando la vigilancia prospectiva. También se mencionó promover proyectos transversales y holísticos que incorporen una visión prospectiva e incorporar los ODS en las agendas estratégicas de los institutos. Para ello, se requiere de fuentes alternativas de financiación más allá de Procisur. Read less

All panelists and participants acknowledged the positions expressed and elaborated during this dialogue.

• Policy needs to be more customized: farmers agree that it is vital to promote an enabling policy environment, tailored to farmers’ needs and diversity of local communities, in order to meet current and emerging challenges. In this regard, it is essential to maintain policy coherence and reduce fragmentation in key sectors such as agriculture, health, education and the environment. • Enable the provision of certain services to farmers such as access to production inputs, financial services, infrastructures, advisory services • Governments have an essential role in ensuring that approp... Read moreriate innovation and information systems are available and affordable to farmers • Develop the capacities of farmers to access and use new technologies and innovation, including digital tools • Farmers ask for greater recognition of their activity as a business and to be fairly rewarded • Facilitate contacts and partnerships between food producers and other actors, such as private sector, credit and investment agencies, research institutes and academia • Empowerment of farmers through their participation in farmers' organisations: strong farmers’ organisations provide economic services at affordable terms to their members; help them to improve their livelihoods; offer easier access to markets, information, services, training; operate as intermediary to make the farmers voice be heard. • Family farmers are the biggest food producers. Nevertheless, 80% of extreme poor live in rural areas. It is therefore necessary to support them through solutions that narrow the gender gap and more effectively include young people in the agricultural sector, improve social protection coverage and increase their income. • Farmers are frequently exposed to extreme weather events and climate change effects. In response to this threat they have implemented several risk coping strategies which make their food systems more resilient. For this reason they want to be considered part of the solution, rather than part of the problem. Read less

Resilience: Climate change, biodiversity protection, prevention and recovery from shocks On the issue raised, participants emphasized the importance of supporting policies that will result in access to natural resources, including land and seeds, access to technology, knowledge and facilities that are crucial to adapt to climate change events. An important part of this knowledge and resources should be directed towards restoring degraded ecosystems and protecting biodiversity. Some farmers are already implementing integrated diversified farming systems, which can effectively address the above ... Read morementioned challenges. Such systems are already helping to build soil health, preserve biodiversity and also store carbon in the soil. Another positive aspect deriving from these practices includes the reduction of chemical inputs and recycling nutrients. In order to do this, it is crucial to cut subsidies to GMOs, to chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and preventing the conversion of arable land to industrial use. In addition, there is a strong desire to stop using fossil fuels which worsen the effects of climate change, by replacing them with alternative energy sources. Finally, the last point regards the importance of building and strengthening partnerships. Partnerships between businesses, cooperatives and governments which lead to information sharing and learning exchange among farmers from different countries. Read less

Rebalancing power in the food value chain Inequality is the problem that afflicts farmers. Food value chains are unbalanced, which inevitably makes food systems unsustainable. Farmers' products reach the markets, but the benefits and gains do not reach them. This problem also relates to the need for greater integration and inclusion of women and young people in the agricultural sector. Agriculture needs to become more attractive, less labour-intensive and more profitable if young people are to start considering it as an alternative way of life. On the other hand, facilitating access to credit ... Read moreand land, including for women, is an inevitable step towards rebalancing the food value chain and reducing poverty. Hence ,a recognition of risk and reward sharing and fairness in the value chain is needed to keep the whole system sustainable and avoid its collapse. Read less

Access to finance: farmers, fishers, food producers The starting point from which the discussion began is the assumption that if farmers were adequately paid by the market, there would be no need for access to external financing. The real challenge of farmers' access to finance basically stems from the fact that prices are not really rewarding what farmers produce. This is one of the most relevant aspects that emerged from the discussion, reflecting the importance of recognising the farmers' activity as a business. Another obstacle mentioned was over-regulation, treating farmers as part of the... Read more problem instead of solutions. This implies difficult access to funding mechanisms, especially for young farmers, but also for women who do not even have the right to own the land. In terms of partnership, there is a need to work with governments, international financial institutions and insurance bodies to better protect them from all adverse events to which farmers are potentially exposed Read less

The Dialogue has been jointly organised by the World Farmers’ Organisation, by World Farmers’ Organisations, WFO, Asian Farmers Association for Sustainable Rural Development, AFA, and PanAfrican Farmers Organization, PAFO. This Independent FSS Dialogue follows a series of previous dialogues held on a regional basis by different Farmers’ organisations with the ambition of identifying solutions to facilitate the transition to sustainable, just, inclusive and empowering food systems. One round of break-out sessions was organized under the following themes: 1) What Farmers expect from the UN... Read more FSS to support them to overcome this challenge? What the world should stop doing to address this challenge? 2) What Farmers are already doing to contribute to address this challenge? 3) What kind of partnerships/coalitions Farmers need to establish? Each of these questions referred to different thematic areas such as 1) Resilience: Climate change, biodiversity protection, prevention and recovery from shocks 2) Rebalancing power in the food value chain 3) Access to finance: farmers, fishers, food producers Every discussion that took place in the various break-out sessions was reported back to the plenary. At the end of this discussion, in the plenary session, strategies and visions were developed with respect to future steps that could be leveraged through the process. Read less

No areas of divergence emerged during our Dialogue.

The major focus of our Dialogue was exploring the vital role of nutrition professionals in advancing sustainable food systems and sustainable diets during the next ten years.

Sustainable Food Systems • The Academy recognizes that many of the actions that are needed to achieve sustainable food and water systems will require changes in practices, habits, and behaviors, which can be challenging or overwhelming to some people, businesses, and organizations. • The work of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) intersects with all the food system sectors, which makes RDNs uniquely qualified to actively shape and deliver dietary guidance, improve nutrition security and water security, align food production and nutrition, optimize supply chains and food environments... Read more, and reduce waste. • The Academy recognizes that revised socio-political structures will be needed to ensure that farmworkers are paid fair wages and work under suitable and safe conditions. Sustainable Diets • Providing guidance on sustainable diets should become an integral element of the practice of dietetics and RDNs are uniquely positioned to do so, as experts in client-centered care and motivational interviewing. • When RDNs integrate sustainable diets into their nutrition counseling practices, it will help drive consumer demand for more sustainable foods, and help motivate food producers and manufacturers to offer more sustainable food and beverage products. The Academy recommends support and facilitation of markets for sustainable foods, which are essential for viability of these foods and related production systems. • To establish and maintain a higher level of professional credibility among healthcare professions and the public, RDNs should avoid the perceived conflicts of interest that may accompany business relationships or sponsorships with certain commercial enterprises and trade associations. • BIPOC farmers have historically used more sustainable farming practices, which should be expanded and promoted through additional funding and support. • The Academy encourages USDA to work with other U.S. federal agencies and retailers to actively facilitate and promote purchases of sustainable food choices. Read less

Sustainable Food Systems • RDNs are skilled in behavior change counseling and can partner with other stakeholders to help people, businesses, and organizations effect changes toward sustainable food and water systems. • The Academy encourages the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Department of Agriculture (USDA), to reconsider inclusion of sustainable food systems in the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Sustainable Diets • RDNs can advocate for increasing the availability of continuing education (including conferences) for practicing RDNs on culturally, geographically, and economically appropriate sustainable diets. • RDNs can advocate for increasing the availability of classes for prospective RDNs on culturally, geographically, and economically appropriate sustainable diets that are offered in Didactic Programs in Dietetics and Dietetic Internships. • RDNs can advocate to (1) develop and implement a sustainability requirement, similar to the ethics requirement, pursuant to which all CD... Read moreR credentialed practitioners must complete a minimum of 1 credit pertaining to the topic of sustainability during each 5-year recertification cycle, (2) revise and strengthen Essential Practice Competency 1.8 (Demonstrates sustainable practices that are socially responsible, efficient, effective and environmentally friendly) and (3) develop sustainability questions for inclusion on the Registration Examination for Dietitians. • RDNs can obtain suitable training in order to support self-promotion as credible experts in sustainable diets and food systems. • RDNs who work in the food service sector can provide sustainability guidance related to purchasing decisions. • RDNs can work with culinary schools to develop a curriculum for sustainable diets that emphasize plant-based proteins. • RDNs can help develop and implement an assessment that food producers and manufacturers can use to assess and promote their commitment to sustainability. • The RDN profession can be rebranded to more effectively communicate to the public the diversity of our skills and knowledge. • The Menus of Change University Research Collaborative is a “nationwide network of colleges and universities using campus dining halls as living laboratories for behavior change” with the goal of moving “people toward healthier, more sustainable, and delicious foods using evidence-based research, education, and innovation.” RDNs can provide guidance to help adapt this model to K - 12 school meals. • RDNs can advocate for laws that will ensure farmworkers are paid fair wages and work under conditions that do not endanger their health. Read less

The major focus of our Dialogue was exploring the vital role of nutrition professionals in advancing sustainable food systems and sustainable diets during the next ten years.

Sustainable Food Systems • The general public is not cognizant of local, national or global food systems. • Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) work in a wide array of roles within the food system, and are skilled at education, communication, policy development, advocacy, and research, which makes RDNs uniquely qualified to actively shape and deliver dietary guidance, improve nutrition security and water security, align food production and nutrition, optimize supply chains and food environments, and reduce waste. • Developing and implementing plans to advance sustainable food syste... Read morems requires the participation of multidisciplinary teams with members representing all sectors of the food system. Sustainable Diets • Providing guidance on sustainable diets should become an integral element of the practice of dietetics. • Sustainable diets will differ between and within countries, e.g., in industrial economies a sustainable diet would include moderating animal protein intake and increasing plant protein intake (up to and including 100% plant-based diets), whereas in economies that experience protein inadequacy, increased animal protein intake may be necessary. • To establish and maintain a higher level of professional credibility among healthcare professions and the public, RDNs should avoid the perceived conflicts of interest that may accompany business relationships or sponsorships with certain commercial enterprises and trade associations. Read less

Sustainable Food Systems • The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics urges the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Department of Agriculture (USDA), to reconsider inclusion of sustainable food systems in the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. • Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are well-qualified to help educate the general public about national or global food systems, criteria to define a sustainable food system, and actions the public can take toward developing a sustainable food system. • RDNs are well-qualified to develop curricula and teach about sustaina... Read moreble food systems in primary and secondary school settings. • RDNs can develop curricula and teach about sustainable food systems in college and university settings, in collaboration with the campus food service management. • RDNs can use their personal social media accounts to communicate about sustainable food systems. • The Academy strongly encourages relevant agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to expand financial support options for students of color to increase diversity in the RDN profession so that RDNs can more effectively communicate with and represent those who are disenfranchised by the current food system. • Increase the availability of continuing education for practicing RDNs on policy, advocacy, and systems thinking to empower more RDNs to advocate for sustainable food systems with local, state and federal lawmakers. • RDNs can advocate for Increasing the availability of classes for prospective RDNs on policy, advocacy, and systems thinking that are offered in Didactic Programs in Dietetics, Dietetic Internships, and other related educational programs. Read less

Sustainable Diets • RDNs can advocate for increasing the availability of continuing education for practicing RDNs on culturally, geographically, and economically appropriate sustainable diets. • RDNs can advocate for increasing the availability of classes for prospective RDNs on culturally, geographically, and economically appropriate sustainable diets that are offered in Didactic Programs in Dietetics and Dietetic Internships. • RDNs can work with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to develop and implement a sustainability requirement... Read more, similar to the ethics requirement, pursuant to which all CDR credentialed practitioners must complete a minimum of 1 CPEU pertaining to the topic of sustainability during each 5-year recertification cycle. • RDNs can use their personal social media accounts to share quick and simple recipes that align with a sustainable diet. • The Academy supports an effort to create a national, standardized, front-of-package symbol system to help consumers quickly identify healthier foods. Read less

No areas of divergence emerged during our Dialogue.

There was a discussion in the chat on the linkages and divergences between regenerative agriculture and climate-smart agriculture, with some participants emphasizing differences between these approaches, and other highlighting synergies. There were also comments in the chat on the differences between CSA and agro-ecology. One participant notes that “leading farmers haven't been invited to the UNFSS table. The input and presence stats clearly show this.”

The dialogue focused on the contributions of the climate-smart agriculture approach in accelerating the transition to sustainable agri-food sytems. Climate-smart agriculture Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is an approach that includes three pillars: sustainably increasing agricultural productivity and incomes, adapting and building resilience of people and agri-food systems to climate change, and reducing and/or removing greenhouse gas emissions where possible. CSA has grown from a concept into an approach implemented throughout the world, by all types of stakeholders. The event, hosted under ... Read morethe Independent Dialogues Food Systems Summit banner, organized by the Global Alliance of Climate Smart Agriculture (GACSA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB), provided stakeholders with an opportunity to exchange knowledge, raise awareness, and share good practices implemented in projects aiming to accelerate the transition towards sustainable Agri-Food Systems while adapting to - and mitigating -climate change and sustainably managing natural resources. Examples of CSA projects were shared with the audience and particular attention was given to projects empowering women, young people and indigenous peoples. Read less