Explore Official Dialogue Feedback

With the implementation of the Sunshine School Meal Program, the malnutrition rate of students has dropped significantly. However, the "double burden" has begun to appear meanwhile. the overweight and obesity rate of students has gradually increased. In terms of this increasingly difficult challenge, on the basis of the above discussion on building a localized food system, the participants in the discussion mainly contributed their experience from the perspective of how to systematically improve the nutritional level of chefs and carry out food education for students. For example, the developm... Read moreent of online courses, while linking with local chef associations and cooking schools, combining online and offline to empower chef groups in a manner of from point to the area. "Food Rainbow Spell" uses gamification to establish the most direct connection between children's minds, food, and nature, and at the same time provides an intuitive and easy reference for chefs to purchase diverse ingredients which are rich in multiple nutrients. Read less

The participants also had an outlook on how to mobilize the whole society to participate in it widely. For example, through the crowdsourcing model, professional organizations set up a framework and invite practitioners from all over the country to fill in the information to form an open-source toolkit of "School Meal Operation Guide", which will identify the problems that may be encountered in each link and the corresponding The solutions are collected so that locals and even students can understand.

The participants generated more new ideas across groups after the panel discussions. The “Buy One Donate One” model of some social enterprises mentioned by the participants in the discussion of Sunshine School Meal reminded the host of another case, which connected the Sunshine School Meal and Monday's “Ecological Diet Day” on group discussion. In this case, if a consumer shares a vegetarian meal on a review website, the website will donate one dollar to poverty alleviation. If this method is applied in the two cases group discussion, it will establish a connection between the public's... Read more awareness of the problems of excessive consumption and food shortages in the food system, create encouragement for the public to transform into sustainable diets, and at the same time，it helps poverty alleviation nutritional improvement business to dig out commercial resources. Read less

There was a conversation about what should be the focal point of the dialogue, one of the speakers wants to make sure we put more emphasis on Poverty Alleviation and Child Development, however, many other participants believe that supporting small-scale farmers and the local community should also be included in the discussion, and we need to look at the solutions from the perspective of food systems. For example, the procurement standards of the produce and food products in the Sunshine Meal program are quite high, which excludes almost all local small-scale farmers. The speaker said that Chil... Read mored Development is the priority in the program, so a higher standard is perfectly justified, and we wouldn't be able to fix all problems at once. In the meantime, most participants insisted that a systematic approach is crucial in any food system-related challenges and isolated solutions are definitely not the best. The other one is when a particular participant brought up Animal Welfare related topics in the school meal procurement process, most of the speakers at the dialogue weren't familiar with the ideas of the Animal Welfare Project, and there were no considerations being made on AWP in the current school meal programs. Many program coordinators at the dialogue agreed that this should be an area to further examine and discuss in the future. Read less

How to improve school meals to achieve one health (human-animal-planet)? 1) In rural areas: address malnutrition (and hidden hunger), improve food diversity, reduce over-dependence on pork and promote plant proteins, support local and smallholder producers 2) In cities: promote plant-forward healthy eating, promote animal welfare (eat less but better meat) Please see the attachment for more background information on the three practice examples and the specific challenges they face.

Pista de acción 5: Crear resiliencia ante las vulnerabilidades, las conmociones y las tensiones En el marco de la Pandemia u otros efectos negativos de desastres naturales y del Cambio Climático ¿Cómo visibilizar, recuperar, revitalizar y fortalecer los sistemas productivos Indígenas, conocimientos, tecnologías locales y ancestrales, con el fin de generar circuitos económicos solidarios? ¿Qué hay que hacer para que los productores Indígenas tengan un “seguro social” y “seguro agrícola”, que proteja las pérdidas de cultivos por lluvias, granizo, sequía y otros fenómenos na... Read moreturales? ➢ Apoyo con planes y programas de rescate y fomento de los saberes y conocimientos ancestrales para la mitigación y adaptación al cambio climático, conservación de los bosques y apoyo con planes y programas para la reforestación con árboles nativos de ecosistemas degradados. ➢ Establecimiento de planes y programas para el intercambio y trueque de productos nativos con las comunidades, cuyas prácticas ancestrales han sido determinantes para la soberanía alimentaria frente a los impactos del Covid-19. ➢ Instalación de centros de información regionales para el intercambio y diálogo de saberes hacia la acción entre el conocimiento científico y los saberes ancestrales con el objetivo de conservar y fomentar la agrobiodiversidad, así como en el manejo de animales nativos y recursos ictiológicos. ➢ Que el FIDA inste a los Gobiernos nacionales el establecimiento del seguro social agropecuario para los pueblos indígenas coordinado por sus organizaciones para los productores, sea de nivel familiar o asociativos, que sufren consecuencias por el cambio climático. Read less

Recomendaciones generales: ❖ Desde el FIDA, generar estrategias globales y regionales para el respeto de los derechos de la Madre Naturaleza e instar que los Gobiernos adopten medidas de política de relación armónica teniendo presente los saberes y conocimientos ancestrales de los pueblos indígenas. ❖ Se recomienda apoyar a los pueblos indígenas en su posición de No a la minería a cielo abierto en los páramos, bofedales, tunas y ojos de agua.

El presente taller regional se organizó con el objetivo de fortalecer la incidencia de los Pueblos Indígenas de América Latina frente a la Cumbre de Sistemas Alimentarios del FIDA, y presentar las conclusiones y recomendaciones de esta región de Abya Yala, para asegurar el derecho a la alimentación y sistemas alimentarios indígena con mujeres, jóvenes, comunidades, organizaciones de productores individuales y asociaciones, Cooperativas y asociaciones de Pescadores. El taller se inició con una ceremonia tradicional de invocación por parte de la hermana quechua Sonia Astuhuamán (Pacari... Read morena Huanca) del Perú y el saludo protocolario y la presentación del evento por parte del Consejero Mayor del FIAY, Jesús Amadeo Martínez, y luego se pasó inmediatamente a escuchar las presentaciones de los temas previstos con los respectivos panelistas ya indicados. Una vez presentado las tres ponencias que se adjuntan con la presente memoria, quedaron como mensajes claves de cada uno de ellos los siguientes: -El mar es un sitio sagrado que albergan grandes cantidades de biodiversidad y gracias a nuestros conocimientos ancestrales hemos podido conservarlos. El cuidado de estos recursos representan un aporte al mundo para asegurar recursos básicos para la vida incluyendo la alimentación. – Arcadio Castillo Díaz -El mundo rural es brutalmente golpeado por el cambio climático, por los cambios que afectan a nuestros territorios. Necesitamos fomentar políticas de Estado que nos permitan combatir estos cambios y generar modelos sostenibles de alimentación que a la vez sean una fuente de ingresos para las comunidades. – Godoy Muñoz Ortega -Nuestra idea es no explotar a la tierra sino aprovechar los recursos cuidando nuestra relación ancestral con la tierra y fomentando el vínculo con nuestros sentires y valores. – Condor Kanqui Catari -Es necesario que los gobiernos aperturen el diálogo con las organizaciones que son portadores de saberes y conocimientos ancestrales para construir soluciones sostenibles para poner fin al hambre y a la mal nutrición. – Amadeo Martínez Las mesas de trabajo virtual se instalaron inmediatamente para adoptar las conclusiones y recomendaciones, con las siguientes preguntas motivadoras acordadas como metodología interna del taller, pero dejando abierto su tratamiento a cada uno de ellos en base a las experiencias que tienen en sus comunidades: Tema 1 - Casa de Acciones Interculturales Randy Randy Comunidad Punkuwayku, Provincia de Imbabura, República del Ecuador (Relator: Kanki Carlosama) Preguntas: ¿Cómo la comunidad San Clemente ejerce control y gobernanza territorial a través de sus propias autoridades? ¿Cómo el rescate de las semillas nativas a través del conocimiento tradicional ayuda en la soberanía alimentaria de la comunidad y de la sociedad en general, y ha sido una estrategia para palear los estragos del Covid-19? Tema 2 - Productor Alpaquero de la Sierra Central del Perú, Región Pasco (Relator: Godoy Muñoz Ortega) Preguntas: ¿Cómo las alpacas andinas con el aporte de los conocimientos tradicionales de la gente local, ayuda en la conservación de los páramos y la mitigación al cambio climático? ¿De qué manera se ha generado valor agregado a la conservación de la alpaca y cómo han incursionado en el mercado local para solventar las necesidades económicas de los alpaqueros y sus familias? Tema 3 - Coordinador de la Alianza de Pescadores Indígenas de Centroamérica (Relator: Arcadio Castillo) Preguntas: ¿Cómo la pesca artesanal con el conocimiento tradicional ayuda en la conservación de otras especies acuáticas en los territorios indígenas? ¿De qué manera esta alianza de pescadores apoya en la organización de las comunidades locales en el control territorial y el ejercicio del gobierno propio y cómo contribuye a la dieta alimenticia de las comunidades? Read less

Los tres grupos de trabajo virtual presentaron sus respectivas relatorías siguiendo las preguntas motivadoras propuestas, luego del cual se obtienen los siguientes resultados: • Compromiso de los pueblos indígenas para fortalecer su gobernanza territorial, seguridad legal de sus tierras y territorios, autoridad comunitaria para el autogobierno y la autonomía, así como para el control para la conservación y uso sostenible de los recursos naturales. • Definir una estrategia de seguridad de las semillas nativas y manejo del agua en los pueblos indígenas. El territorio y el agua son fund... Read moreamentales para garantizar la soberanía alimentaria de las comunidades. • Crear escuelas de formación y capacitación de líderes comunitarios para fortalecer el liderazgo indígena y las organizaciones comunitarias para la defensa de los territorios indígenas y la soberanía alimentaria. • Las semillas nativas no deben ser vistas desde el interés del capital y lo económico, sino desde lo colectivo donde prime la familia y la comunidad, dando preferencia a la calidad de nuestros productos por su alto valor nutritivo. No al consumismo y evitar el uso de pesticidas químicos. • Definir una estrategia de rescate de las plantas medicinales y los saberes y conocimientos ancestrales, que hoy han sido y siguen siendo determinantes para palear los impactos del Covid-19. • Fortalecer los conocimientos y saberes ancestrales en el manejo de los ecosistemas para la mitigación y adaptación al cambio climático, que en el caso de la región de los Andes es crítico por el deshielo de los glaciales y la destrucción de las tunas, bofedales y páramos, fuente natural del líquido vital. • Desarrollar una campaña de consumo regulado de carne de animales nativos para combatir la pandemia, como la carne de alpaca en las comunidades por su alto valor nutritivo que es muy superior, por ejemplo, frente a la carne de pollo. • Generar una campaña de cultura y disciplina alimentaria balanceada en la familia, la comunidad, la escuela y la sociedad, no solo es comer fréjoles, papá o quinua, sino una alimentación balanceada. • Fomentar la inocuidad y disciplina alimentaria respetando los usos horarios para la alimentación, que en caso contrario altera el ritmo biológico del ser humano. • Mediante la concienciación pública fomentar el respeto a los derechos de la Madre de la Naturaleza para su relación armónica y el equilibro de los ciclos biológicos del suelo, subsuelo y del espacio territorial. Read less

Pista de acción 1: Garantizar el acceso a alimentos sanos y nutritivos para todos ¿Qué recomendaciones específicas, orientadas a la acción, quisieran enviar al Secretariado de la Cumbre de Sistemas Alimentarios que puedan provocar cambios de políticas y de prácticas en esta cadena para garantizar el acceso a alimentos en cantidades suficientes, sanos y nutritivos para todos y todas? Pista de acción 2: Adoptar modalidades de consumo sostenibles ¿Qué recomendaciones sugiere para asegurar el consumo de alimentos sanos, inocuos, nutritivos y libres de contaminación, además de recomenda... Read morer acciones sostenibles para apoyar a la planificación integral de la producción comunitaria de alimentos Indígenas? ➢ Diseño de estrategias para el rescate de semillas y productos nativos a través del saber y conocimiento tradicional, con video clics que apoyen a las comunidades para la producción agroecológica tendiente a la provisión de alimentos sanos y saludables para la soberanía alimentaria y su inclusión en la cadena de mercado. Esta recomendación debe ser una de las líneas de acción clave del FIDA, para garantizar la soberanía alimentaria de los pueblos indígenas. ➢ Fomentar campañas de inocuidad y soberanía alimentaria con productos nutritivos y libres de contaminación, además de recomendar acciones estratégicas coordinadas y articuladas con las instancias oficiales de los Estados nacionales, con planes y programas de investigación y rescate de las semillas nativas. ➢ Que el FIDA establezca un mecanismo financiero que apoye a la generación de valor agregado a los productos agrícolas de las comunidades con el rescate y aporte de los saberes y conocimientos ancestrales, a través del apoyo técnico y financiero con Universidades y Centros de Investigación. ➢ Que el FIDA, recomiende a los Estados establecer un tratamiento especial arancelario para productos verdes certificados de las comunidades, para su importación y exportación al mercado nacional e internacional. Read less

Pista de acción 3: Impulsar la producción favorable con la naturaleza En el marco de los sistemas de producción agroalimentarios ¿Qué recomendaría para reducir la pérdida de biodiversidad, el uso del agua, la degradación del suelo y las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero, cuando se hace agricultura o ganadería? ¿Es importante la elaboración de políticas para la producción favorable con la naturaleza? Pista de acción 4: Promover medios de vida equitativos ¿Cuál es la mejor manera para que las prácticas, conocimientos y saberes de los Pueblos Indígenas, sean reconocidos y... Read more respetados a niveles locales, nacionales e internacionales en cuanto a los sistemas alimentarios propios? ➢ Se recomienda diseñar una estrategia coordinada entre productores de animales y productores agrícolas, para el mejoramiento genético con el apoyo de las universidades. El mejoramiento genético debe ser con técnicas ancestrales y apoyados por políticas públicas de los Estados nacionales. ➢ Apoyo del FIDA, para el poblamiento de los ecosistemas de alta montaña con camélidos andinos, como las alpacas, llamas y vicuñas, que son especies nativas adaptadas para la conservación del bosque nativo y la biodiversidad de las tunas, bofedales y páramos. El conocimiento ancestral de las comunidades indígenas está asociado con el manejo de estos animales nativos que no degradan la biodiversidad ni los ojos de agua, y más bien ayudan a su restauración ecológica y sedimentación del carbono forestal. ➢ Protección de bancos genéticos de animales y el germoplasma de semillas nativas, con procesos de selección y mejoramiento de sistemas de manejo de hatos. Apoyo del Estado y del FIDA con políticas con niveles de sanidad y manejo de animales. ➢ Los conocimientos y saberes ancestrales de los pueblos indígenas deben ser rescatados, conservados, fortalecidos y protegidos por su aporte estratégico a la agroecología y manejo de ecosistemas. Los Estados nacionales deben establecer políticas públicas de protección y fomento de estos conocimientos y desarrollar Protocolos Comunitarios para su gestión y su aplicación con el auspicio del FIDA. Read less

Overall, the participants share a view on need for adequate food for all. However, the areas of divergence in food safety and adequacy were given to express two themes. First, the pesticides industry is a multi-billion sector and will not sit back and watch as they lose market and business for their products. Therefore, we might need to look for ways of incorporating them to see if they can produce safe alternatives (biopesticides) to the harmful chemicals. Second, double standards where the Government sets higher standards on food safety for the export market than they do for local markets. T... Read morehere is a need to push consumers to demand the same measures. In power dynamics in the food system, some divergence was also noted. The "Business as usual" situation will continue to threaten sovereign food systems in Kenya and the country's industrial agriculture agenda. For example, national budget allocations for the past five years remain at less than 4% of the national budget. In addition, Africa is an untapped export market for pesticides, so there is an increase in pesticide exports to the continent. Then, Nation-wide public opinion on politically sensitive issues such as Genetically Modified Organisms and chemical pesticides and fertilizers to inform government budget allocations and political priorities (not the other way around). Some participants have heard of their friends or relatives who do not quite mind having food whether GMO or not as long as they can get to sell, and eat. These sessions did discuss why civil society actors still need to be part of the food systems dialogues. Issues related to food systems and their discussions are within democratic processes, public participation, and overall inclusivity. The collaborating organizations and dialogue participants hold to a firm belief of an all-encompassing process that brings farmer and consumer interests and perspectives on board -- especially in the wake of concerns on stakeholder values, corporate capture, accountability, and human rights. Read less

Welthungerhilfe (WHH), Rural Outreach Africa (ROA), African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), and Route to Food Initiative (RTFI) are organizations working towards realizing the human right to food in Kenya. WHH is working in Kenya with programs to support smallholder farmers drive the food and nutrition security agenda within their communities. APHRC, as a think tank, specializes in the generation of policy evidence for improving people's health and well-being. ROA serves rural communities in Kenya and intervenes in addressing aspects of food security, nutrition, and socio-econom... Read moreic development. Finally, RTFI works towards realizing the right to food in Kenya and supports public discourse on practical solutions to food systems bottlenecks. The Independent dialogue focused on securing accountability for the right to adequate food in Kenya and exploring pathways to sustainable, inclusive, resilient, and equitable food systems. The topic focused on Action Track 1 and Action Track 3. The dialogue provided an opportunity to reflect on how the Constitutional right to adequate food can be put into practice. It also evaluated whether our current approach to food and farming systems, policies, legal frameworks, and investments, both from public and private sectors, promote the right to adequate food. In the subsequent remarks made at the dialogue, speakers reiterated key issues and statistics on food systems, security, nutrition, and possible opportunities. In addition, this report presents thematic highlights as referenced by group discussions. Participants in this dialogue were drawn from smallscale producers, civil society, CBO, national and local government, research, academia, media, local and international NGOs, consumer groups, private companies, and human rights advocates. The plenary and group discussions were informative and lively. In this report, the discussion outcomes are based on five key discussion themes: 1) We need a way that ensures accountability for the Right to Adequate Food in Kenya. This is a role for multiple actors but are there existing policies addressing issues in food systems? Are they inclusive in their representation? 2) Smallholder and urban farmers are critical stakeholders in addressing food and nutrition security but their role might be overlooked. 3) There is a lot of power-play in food and farming systems - can these be identified and managed to drive more inclusivity? 4) We desire to have sustainable, inclusive, resilient, and equitable food systems; and 5) Food safety and adequacy are increasingly becoming important. Read less

The role of different stakeholders in food and nutrition security should be complementary. Currently we have more consumers than producers of food. This situation increases pressure on the few producers to meet food needs. We need to build the food systems thinking that is holistic and grounded on science and practical experience. What has been done before and worked? Can farmers identify their roles in food systems and not entirely rely on the Government? The evidence of large commercial agriculture establishments narrowing the dietary diversity, access to agricultural inputs, technologies an... Read mored services, and priority for markets need to be keenly looked at as they pressure humanity to move towards industrial farms. Farmers can produce using ecologically sound principles to mitigate against climate variability, but can they get support from all quarters? These farmers need to access relevant training on the realities of farming and embrace strategies with corrective potential. It is critical to know and understand who feeds us. A monitoring and accountability system that measures the uptake and impact of support by smallholder farmers needs to be established. The presence of collective action in food systems cannot be overemphasized. The training and bargaining which groups can leverage for community resilience is phenomenal and can be encouraged at the policy level, especially at formulation. Smallholders need a consistent update on new scientific and ecologically sound approaches to farming, into which they integrate indigenous knowledge. As a way of addressing the concerns of sustainability, equity, resilience, and inclusivity in food systems, several actions can be taken up; 1. Civil society organizations, Government, consumers, and farmers can resolve. 2. The farmer can receive moderated funding which allows them to grow and encourage equity. The farmers will have to push for policies through active and strategic advocacy that ensure their agenda reaches the highest office of the land. Food policies should be farmer-friendly to ensure the farmers are protected and empowered. 3. There is a need to build knowledge systems that teach sustainable farming approaches like agroecology for healthy food systems enhancing livelihoods of smallholders, food and nutrition security for all, and the health of the planet. 4. There is a need for strong producer movements, by farmers, for farmers! The need to hold open multi-stakeholder dialogues will be increasingly helpful. 5. Hold the Government accountable and make sure that they are accountable for the promises made to farmers. On the right to adequate food, participants agreed to continue in civic education on rights, collect evidence of violations, make them more visible to the public, bring these to court, and get orders that hold duty bearers responsible. Food should be universally accessible because it is a human right. Universal food access must be recognized as a policy like universal health coverage, universal access to education. The role and power of consumers to create change was also emphasized as consumers can practically vote with their forks, buying from, and supporting food and farming systems they want to see. Their resolve is also to continue engagement in ongoing civic education on food rights. Finally, they will generate and utilize gender-disaggregated data to promote a complete shift away from gender-neutral approaches. A couple of indicators will define the success of these actions. Four key ones are when we see: • Improvement in health and well-being status of citizens, including reduced child malnutrition, improved food, and nutrition security statistics. • Increased budget allocations to agriculture, with a focus on smallholder farming and projects that support food sovereignty and food access (not cash crops for export) • A fiscal policy in Kenya that does not punish the poor (through taxation on essential foods); and that will incentivize agroecological transition in agriculture • Food system policies and implementation frameworks that are responsive to the needs of farmers, and marginalized groups The success of the above actions will be visible in several ways. First, we will be able to see more affordable, safe, and adequate food for everyone. The production of safe, diverse foods will significantly rely on farmers embracing agroecology principles, taking up more bio instead of synthetic pest and disease management approaches, and improved food safety standards for Kenyans. With proper implementation of the policies related to agriculture, food, and nutrition security, there will be a positive shift in the country's food and nutrition security situation. County governments will also be taking up policies that ensure food is produced safely, diversified, and redistributed where practical. As a result, improved citizens' health and well-being, including reduced child malnutrition and improved food and nutrition security levels, and reduced food-borne illnesses will be seen. In summary, areas where participants will need to undertake these actions: a) Create consumer awareness on the impacts of excessive use and growing misuse of chemical inputs in production and work closely with regulators, alternatives and sustainable practices, the value of having a food rescue system to ensure that food does not go to waste when it can be redistributed or stored safely b) Pilot interventions promoting urban farming in informal settlements in Nairobi c) Promote a culture of small-scale urban farming across socio-economic divides. Read less

Discussion topic 1/5: Stakeholder roles in ensuring food, and nutrition security The dialogue discussed and highlighted the roles of different stakeholders (Government, private sector, civil society organizations (CSOs), and communities), in ensuring food and nutrition security and ensuring the right to adequate food for all. It observed that current policies will become increasingly important in addressing food systems issues if adequately implemented. This change will require smooth coordination of food systems issues at and across the county and national levels. Another key outcome of the d... Read moreiscussion was funding levels and the engagement of smallholders in policy formulation. Several speakers noted that the context in which discussions on policy occur has been changing, albeit slowly. The involvement of the smallholder in policy formulation seems to be very lean and not allowing a robust engagement. However, the Constitution of Kenya remains very decisive on the need to have stakeholder engagements at the heart of any policy formulation at national and county levels. Discussants agreed that producers must be at the center of policymaking, sustainable environmental management, and the whole food chain, i.e., farm-to-fork. The participants did note that while in the community, there could be farmers that are less informed on good agronomic practices, the lack of knowledge amongst producers comes at a high cost not only to their livelihoods and success in their craft but also to consumers and the environment due to exposure to unsafe, unsustainable practices. As a regulator and enabler, the Government needs to take up its role more decisively and discharge its mandate. Some of the contextual aspects that came up include the need for farmer linkages in counties to reap the benefits of training and cross-learning. Farmer-to-farmer extension, including the regular extension from Government, CSOs, and NGOs, can help address knowledge gaps. Stakeholders need to go on the ground and facilitate shifts in behavior and thinking. Cooperatives will allow a unity of purpose in farming communities, leveraging on their multi-skill base and delivering benefits of group training. The farmers need to know how critical their role is in the food system. In seeking sustainable food systems, we need to change the current narrative. A bottom-up implementation is an excellent possibility if a blueprint in agriculture is co-developed and a holistic food systems approach is applied. Focusing on youth exposure to agriculture from the onset to school will fortify their interest in food systems. The process of ensuring accountability for the Right to Adequate Food in Kenya should be centered and driven by rights holders, including smallholder farmers who are increasingly becoming more susceptible to food insecurity. Some of the main action points from the discussion include: • All stakeholders need to incorporate the welfare of producers in food systems activities and interventions. • Work with farmers to establish the best evidence-based farming methods. • Support group collective action for strengthening farmer knowledge, and practices through farmer-farmer sharing on practical concepts such as growing organic food, crop rotation, and composting. • Support knowledge access for smallholders as the ultimate equaliser -- it increases equity, fairness, and transparency in the food production system. Read less

Discussion topic 2/5: Who feeds us? The role of smallholders and urban farmers in food and nutrition security It was noted that there was still an ongoing need to support smallholder farmers. This support is not because they do not have the potential in production but rather because they hold significantly higher potential. Now, they produce to feed up to 70% of the population, with only 25% of resources. However, these farmers still face several challenges, including: • Lack of extension and education services • Limited access to markets and marketing information (value chains) • Too ma... Read moreny intermediaries involved in brokerage • Land sub-division, leaving too few pieces for farming • Variable weather patterns • The influx of imported goods • An aging population of farmers • A culture that negatively impacts women from producing food. What we need to see is: • Have more people able to meaningfully participate in public dialogue, especially women and persons living with disabilities. • A reduced influence of agrochemical companies on government policymaking. • A strengthened extension service that educates farmers on safe food production will be imperative. • The sub-national dialogues brought to bear the vulnerable state smallholders are in. In their assessment, discussants do agree that there's a need for a paradigm shift. The thinking that food insecurity is a net result of climate change is a "tired assertion." The systemic issues impeding progress towards inclusive food and nutrition security require scrutiny. A couple of suggestions were made about how individuals, corporates, and government entities can apply supportive actions: • Individuals can (need to) buy from small-scale farmers and can demand provision for retailers to stock from these farmers. • Corporates need to source from the local and small-scale farmers. They can also provide the needed resources in supporting the scaling of farmer activities. • The Government is a significant player in food systems and thus needed to promote the local level procurements. They can also avail the much-needed subsidies and incentives to farmers using sustainable and ethical production methods. If they consider creating spaces where farmers can learn about these practices, a significant shift in behavior will start developing. • The youth need an enabling environment for working in the entire value chain – the Government can prioritize this. Agriculture has to maintain a capacity to conserve, regenerate and reward. Improved market surveillance to reduce food waste will be needed. This process should be embedded in enhanced value addition and support to farmers through market cooperatives that increase access to global markets. We see large-scale farmers embracing organic farming and organic ways of producing large-scale agricultural products for human consumption. Finally, a short and localized food value chain is needed - from production to processing/value addition and marketing. Smallholders need to access information on market dynamics, pricing of products, and general empowerment by value-chain. These will help guide a consistent transformation that seeks household food and nutrition security, imparts farmer decision-making abilities, and leads them to food sovereignty. Urban farming continues to inspire hope. It is key to the production of and access to safe, nutritious, and healthy food. It has been on the increase in cities through the pot, backyard, and multi-story gardens. It also offers additional income to the smallholders who sell their surplus production. In the closing of this discussion, proposed action points included: • There is a need for all interventions to embrace shorter, localized food value chains - from production to processing/value addition and marketing. • Access to information on market dynamics, pricing of products, and the general empowerment of smallholders to effectively engage at the market level should be prioritised. Read less

Discussion topic 3/5: Power dynamics in food and farming systems This session highlights the perceived and actual roles of different aspects, i.e., gender, politics, finance, and multinational corporations in food and farming systems. The participation of women and youth in food systems following (dis)empowerment is queried. This participation is also examined based on "how we can incentivize women, youth, people differently-abled , and other vulnerable groups to aid their participation in food systems more meaningfully." Finally, it explores what the power dynamics are and paints a picture of... Read more what the status is. Several actions will influence power dynamics in food systems in the next three years: 1. We will see increased democratic space in the food system. This shift will create equal freedom for all people to participate. As it is, citizens have been reduced to listeners, without space and/or adequate attention given to the people's views. If the farmers are consistently positioned at the center, we will witness changes in these power dynamics. Strategies and interventions need to be grown from and informed by a ground-up approach, where farmers are the first point of information and guidance on what change is necessary and what is required to support them. 2. With a strengthened regulatory framework, much traction will be gained. Laws, policies, and regulations need to be genuinely farmer-centered and pro-poor. The regulatory framework in place needs to exhibit an expanded understanding of the food system – it is not just about production, productivity, and export. In parallel, there is a need for awareness among farmers on existing laws that support them and available redress channels. Fundamental changes in how we view social capital strategies will define the next three years. The social capital available at the local level, such as farmers' cooperatives, can serve as avenues for educating smallholder farmers on best practices for safe and sustainable food production. This voice and communication will rely on social capital, unified voices, and increased communication in society. We need to express what we want and need for a food systems change! 3. Embracing human-centered approaches will always be critical to determining power dynamics in food and farming systems. The food system and processes in food production should prioritize people's health, welfare, and well-being instead of merely focusing on profit-making. We will need a sustained civic education drive. This result will be achieved by ensuring continuity of civic education on the food system that targets people at the grassroots and leverages the devolved governance structure in Kenya. Participants did agree that people empowerment and effective communication should be at the center of civic education efforts. Community organizations and initiatives could be used to do this. Local farmers and consumers can also be urged to join these initiatives and learn 4. The need to have enhanced public participation in all sub-sectors of food systems will be inalienable. Therefore, we will have to derive common understandings on the definition of public participation, alongside formulation of verifiable criteria for public participation that ensures inclusion of people at the grass-root level (small scale farmers and consumers) and accountability. For successful engagement and favourable political economy framework, we need: • A change from the current top-down approach to a bottom-up approach is needed. • Sustained civic education on food policies, regulatory framework, and food systems interventions in general for more meaningful participation and involvement of everyone • Strengthening of the regulatory framework guiding various aspects of food systems Read less

Discussion topic 4/5: Sustainable, resilient, inclusive, and equitable food systems Agroecology as a principle means working with nature to farm effectively. It allows the food system to achieve these four indicators. Education and awareness are needed on the components that drive resilience in farming systems. Household food consumption patterns have been changing, and so have been food markets. Embracing kitchen gardens to add to the household's daily food basket is a great strategy to improve food and nutrition security. The power of these gardens lies in undertaking them in minimal spaces,... Read more water needs, and attention. Thus, smallholder farmers can be taught that even if marginalized, they still contribute a considerable proportion of the food needs. This appreciation will help encourage both production and consumption of home-grown food. The participants noted that the danger of food commodification still lurks. This situation will continue to become more pressing, especially as discussions on food systems remain "much talk and little action." Better information flows will reinforce the momentum for better monitoring and evaluating these efforts at developing ideal food systems. There was agreement that when food becomes a market commodity, it is not produced in dignity and we think about the money aspect only. There is often the tendency to forget that we will also buy food grown that same way. The consequences of producing for money take away inclusivity and thinking about others and the environment. On sustainability, the focus is three-fold, i.e., environmental, economic, and social. For environmental causes, land, water and seed will need to be protected and conserved. Where farmers can depend on farming for their lives, economic questions will arise. They are spending much money and get close to zero harvests. Social sustainability will raise additional questions in food systems. These include whether farmers are getting new and up-to-date knowledge on appropriate farming practices and extension that empowers them. Finally, culture also has a place in the food systems. The improved breeds and varieties have sometimes gone against cultural norms, e.g., broiler or intensively farmed chicken has not been well received in farming and increasingly urban communities. It was noted that there remains no justice in the food system if chemicals and additives in farming are making the wrong people richer while disenfranchising the smallholder farmer. Consequently, there is hope in making our food systems equitable. We do not have to harm other organisms to feed consumers, to make money out of farming. Prudent management of natural resources provided to us by mother nature will benefit every player in the food system ensuring equity - if normalize safe food! Now, more than ever, the smallholder farmer needs to embrace value addition, access their pool of seed adapted to their agroecology, and be in cooperatives or associations that advocate for their needs. A great deterrent to equity in farming systems is capitalism. The subsidy regime fronted by the Government and other stakeholders are heavily inclined toward commercial farmers. Middlemen and other players like chemical sellers are the ones who benefit from the farming system. There need to be policies that ensure the farmers are protected and empowered. The farmer groups have been deliberately disenfranchised to take advantage of them. This observation is around the world. Consumers are very important stakeholders in the food system, and there is a need to empower them. They need to know their rights and how food produced conventionally impacts their health to demand better food production and policies that protect their health and their children's future. The main action points derived from this session include the need to: • Empower consumers to take up their role in determining the way local food systems are structured and managed • Onboard environmental conservation thinking in the design and management of our food systems Read less

Discussion topic 5/5: Food safety and adequacy Participants expressed their views on what food is all about. i) food is self-care, ii) food is dignity, iii) food is about choice and having an excellent variety to choose from, iv) food should be safe, v) food is political, and vi) food is community. Participants also did define a set of actions they felt would have the most significant impact on food adequacy and safety in the next three years. There will be an increase in the uptake of biopesticides to grow food. This uptake will offer farmers an alternative to synthetic pesticides harmful to ... Read morethe environment and human health. Providing farmers with the correct information will be crucial in the next couple of years. Currently, the Government is seen pushing smallholder farmers to embrace inorganic fertilizers and other farm inputs. These have been shown to have direct impacts on their farms through degrading effects on their soils and yield declines. There will be a drive to have more shifts to work with nature in regenerating the soil, increasing food and nutrition security, and improving biodiversity and ecosystem services. The withdrawal of toxic pesticides will be a significant issue. At least 33% of active pesticide ingredients currently registered and sold as products in Kenya have been withdrawn from the European market. This withdrawal is due to its potentially severe impact on human and environmental health. Consumers continue to demand safe food. This act will be increasing as more information and awareness becomes available to the masses. Kenya exports organic food to markets in Europe. While this is viewed as a good income stream for both specialized and selected producers, it is time that consumers demanded the same quality of food that is exported. Consumers can also contribute to producing some of the food they consume at home through embracing urban farming/ kitchen gardening. We will see a heightened series of efforts that push on the Government to act. More accountability will be demanded from the Government by the people. Several practitioners will push the Government to ensure that there is enforcement for all the guidelines. These guidelines will directly influence access to production inputs, actual production activity, sales and marketing, and certification. For example, before the food gets to the supermarket shelves, it will need to be certified as safe. This certification will rely on systems in place to guarantee the application of safety principles. If we have Kenyan food policies that can guarantee food safety, many gains will be realized. Presently, there is little political goodwill when it comes to food safety; most policies and laws end up supporting multinational corporations. There was thus a call to observe that “security starts with us, and we need to know how food is grown. If we demand safe food, farmers will work towards that as they will respond to the needs/demands of the market”. With proper distribution and storage of food, we will see more food availability. There are seasons when food surpluses are recorded in the country for some regions, as others record dry spells and failed harvests. What if the Government ensures that during this high production season, storage is appropriately stored? What if the food can be (equally) redistributed through a food rescue system? We need to support local food systems. Let us have the media highlighting the fundamental issues related to the Right to Adequate food for all. They need to do more feature stories related to food safety to create awareness. Finally, it was agreed that with increased budget allocations to agriculture, and with a focus on smallholder farming, projects should support food sovereignty and food sustenance (not cash crops for export). The discussion agrees on a set of crucial and pivotal actions to be undertaken: • Deliberately work on better food storage and distribution systems at all levels • Shift towards more environmentally sound methods of farming that protect the soil and biodiversity • Consumers have to demand better food and be actively involved in championing good practices and sustainable food systems. Read less

During the Dialogue mext reccomendation was developed to national and regional governments on Action Track 4: Advance equitable livelihoods:  To guarantee indigenous rights to lands, territories and natural resources  To guarantee the legal status of indigenous territories of residence and indigenous peoples' economic activities including fishing, hunting and harvesting rights  To guarantee the recognition and importance of indigenous rights to preserve traditional food culture and realize indigenous peoples right to healthy and culturally appropriate food and their right to define th... Read moreeir own food systems  To recognize and support indigenous life systems, community governance, traditional knowledge systems, sacred sites, worldviews, spirituality, etc.  To confirm commitment to equitable health and food policies and increase political commitment and finance to address challenges in food-relates areas, exacerbated by the pandemic  To promote and strengthen the role and prestige of native traditional economies (reindeer herding, seed farming, fishing, gathering, hunting, etc.), employment systems and practices  To promote the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples in decision-making, related to the food, welfare and future development of indigenous peoples and their territories and actively involve and incorporate indigenous perspectives in regional development strategies, planning, policy decisions and actions which affect them, including the development of health policies  To empower indigenous communities by strengthening their economic governance capacities and enhancing income opportunities  To create incentives (financial and nonfinancial) and encourage the develoment of indigenous community-based food practices  To ensure state and other (international) assistance (legal, financial, technical, etc.) in the development and promotion of traditional food systems of indigenous peoples and local communities  To improve availability, access and affordability of indigenous foods at local, regional, national markets and ensure sustainable, regular, continuous and unrestricted access to quantitative, qualitative and adequate nutrition in accordance with the cultural traditions of indigenous peoples and local communities  To ensure full access to free traditional food and economic activities for people residing in the marginalized and geographically remote areas, and families which are economically and socially excluded and vulnerable to food and nutrition security (older persons, children, persons with disabilities, etc.)  To build the resilience of women, small indigenous business, and vulnerable populations by supporting the growth of local community-based food system initiatives and food policies  To initiate conditions for a youth entrepreneurship and build opportunities for young people to engage in a greater data collection, sharing and exchange at various levels, innovations and practices of local food systems and traditional agriculture of indigenous peoples and local communities  To promote and legislate fair trade and encourage partnering with indigenous communities in the food system chain and prioritizing federal/regional/local programmes engaging indigenous business and family-based enterprises in agribusiness and food-based systems  To provide transparent and open quantitative data on the allocation of quotas between indigenous communities, individuals, industrial companies and small businesses located on the indigenous territories (indigenous territories under the federal law)  To protect indigenous territories from industrial pollution, genetically modified or synthetic biological organisms or elements  To increase policy actions in the area of traditional food marketing including certification of indigenous products  To enhance investment and prioritise research of indigenous traditional food systems research and development  To invest in restoration of degraded lands including boreal forests and other endangered ecosystems and lands, which are the basis of indigenous traditional knowledge, practices, medicine and nutrition systems Read less