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More educational and marketing campaigns are needed around healthy eating, but such campaigns also needed to be accompanied with support for both greater physical and economic access to such healthy foods

Innovation initiatives need to be inclusive of local as well as sustainable agriculture

Register and make visible where the alternative short food supply chains are, especially that include smallholder farmers.

Carry out more participatory instances: dialogues, territorial discussions.

Organize intersectoral coordination, so that policies are more permanent.

Greater territorial planning and modification of the regulatory plan in cities, in order to favor agricultural soils. “Protect the resources that we still have” (example of community gardens that arise due to the need for space in very dense cities).

Only a couple of the small groups identified areas of divergence. Thus, what follows are the only areas of divergence that emerged during our Dialogue. Regarding trade policy around food production in Chile, one part of the small group indicates that, if the export is higher, then the price of food rises in the domestic market due to movements in the trade balance. Therefore, the State must regulate foreign trade to control prices in domestic markets. For their part, other participants in the small group declare that the price of food is not regulated by the international market, because Chile... Read more only exports fruits, practically no vegetables. So, controlling foreign trade and the country's trade balance would not impact the prices of vegetables. In this way, they propose the generation of a public policy focused on the tax burden of food (for example, VAT could be lowered to healthy foods) so that consumers buy healthy products at a lower and better price. Reeducation of the general population, in the sense that it understands that agricultural products are temporary. Disagreement occurs when a person argues that it is possible to find most products in other locations and it is even possible to import them. Lack of political will to re-educate in new systems. People counter-argue that the will has existed for a long time, that the diagnosis is understood by all, but the lack of continuity of governments makes it difficult to maintain public policies. Promotion of differentiation of healthier foods, added value (eg front-of-package labels). Some people argued that there are enough healthy foods and that in general these foods are aimed at upper-middle-income people, but the main nutrition-related health problems as well as problems with healthy food access are in low-income people, who are the ones who most need a dietary change. Solve problems of access to healthy food. Some participants argue that access exists, as there are farmers markets (ferias libres) everywhere. Differences in access throughout Chile was also discussed (eg extreme areas). Read less

The focus of this Dialogue was on transforming food systems to promote greater resilience and sustainability within food systems in Chile. To implement this focus throughout the dialogue small group discussions we included the following four questions in our Facilitator template: 1. What transformations are necessary / urgent in the Chilean food system to make it more sustainable and inclusive? 2. What actions in the coming years would have the greatest impacts on these transformations? How can we carry out these actions without putting at risk income / household / family income in Chile? 3. W... Read morehat actors should be involved and in what way in actions for transformation in the Chilean food system? (Including the organizations they belong to) 4. How will it be possible to know if these actions are successful? Read less

Environment and Climate to promote more seasonal and local food systems: To achieve a sustainable food system, it is necessary to promote the implementation of actions that promote seasonal and local consumption (and therefore local production). Chile’s agricultural policies have been dismantling the diversity of peasant production to monocultural production models. Governance/Trade-offs: If we think that in 20 more years more people will live in cities, farmers must develop strategies that allow them to produce for what those cities demand. Governance/Policy: The current pandemic context mu... Read morest be considered, where it has been shown that the consumption of fruits and vegetables reduces the risks of getting sick. We must start by implementing greater nutrition education from the first stages of life, accompanied by public policies that promote healthy eating and facilitate access to healthy food. We must demolish myths with powerful educational campaigns. School gardens must be accompanied by a budget to hire staff to be responsible on vacation. Territorial/contextual differences: We cannot speak of a single food system, since there are different realities in the same country: the products vary by price, quality, and access. Price: The cost of food is not reflected in farmers' income but goes to intermediaries or input-producing companies. The food export companies have partners that become millionaires while agricultural workers earn very little. There is incongruity between food access and pricing. Changes in power structures within Chilean food systems: Power relations are characterized by being vertical and power is concentrated in those who concentrate more hectares or water rights. Change is needed, including from vertical to horizontal relations. Governance/Policy re fishing and aquaculture: Fishing should be state supported to solve the population's food problems. Incentives must be developed for local markets to increase the supply of marine products. The per-capita consumption of fish in Chile is very low, so the promotion of fish consumption should also be strengthened. Governance/Policy/Finance re healthy food access: Access to healthy products should improve and become equitable. There needs to be incentives given to people to buy healthy food. The State must protect food prices to lower the costs of a healthy diet. Innovation: Chile has put a lot of resources and technology into the fruit exports. Technological solutions are needed for food produced and sold in Chile; such as technology transfer, training, research and development of technologies; including environmentally friendly technological advances. Universities must generate professionals who are linked with society and who focus on research in relation to society and the environment, in this way reflective spaces can be achieved that help to value peasant agricultural production, including agroecology. Governance/Policy: Advertising campaigns around food and nutrition must have a state budget to be successful because it is a public health issue; and should utilize digital media. Governance/Policy: Legal reforms must be made that establish a minimum purchase of local food, not just based on price, for school programs. Governance/Policy/Youth empowerment: Facilitate access to land for young people since land is becoming more and more expensive. The wisdom and local experience of rural territories must be recovered. The revaluation of peasant territories must be sustainable and appropriate for the effects of food systems. We must transform how the food system is perceived, from a technological, productive, economic sector to a sector that also implies culture. One way to do so is to make visible and clarify the importance of the peasant agriculture as a cultural heritage of Chile, as well as the forms of production and food of smallholder farming systems and indigenous peoples. Identify these experiences and make them visible. And ideally return to some of the older forms of agricultural production techniques. The food systems transformations that are made must consider the different scales of agricultural production that exist, with support for both small and medium scale agriculture. However, whatever the scale, access to water and land must be guaranteed, as well as the protection of our agri-food heritage (species, varieties, knowledge, etc.). Governance/Policy: Greater support of small-scale production, particularly in relation to desertion and migration from the countryside to the city; including incentives, that allow a living wage and livelihood so that producers can remain working and living in rural areas. Governance/Policy: implement more short food supply chains; such as cooperatives, associations and direct consumer contact with producers. Policies should install more State-run agricultural collection centers. Governance/Policy: Make changes in the entire food packaging chain, which still has a lot of plastic and other waste materials. Policy: Avoid the high use of pesticides within the food system. Stricter laws are needed on the use of agro-toxins, with campaigns that inform about the human and environmental risks of such toxins. Such as with the Ministries of Health and Education, with agro-toxins as a public health issue. Governance/Policy: Stop the criminalization of farmers who sell on the streets versus the support given to street vendors and supermarkets. Farmers should be allowed to continue selling on the streets, because that has always been done in Chile, before supermarkets. Read less

Increase the number of farmers markets (ferias libres) in Chile since they are currently the best local (healthy) food supply for the population but they are not sufficient or permanent.

Digital literacy training for farmers so that they can take advantage of the new digital platforms (e.g. social media, delivery, etc.) to really reach the consumer.

Include the right to adequate food and food sovereignty in the Chilean constitution since it will serve to create the conditions for all policies to move towards this path.

The public sector should become more involved in the local food supply, in terms of incentivizing greater local production and consumption

The approach chosen in conducting the Dialogue allowed the participants of the ‘main’ event to agree/ uphold or disagree/ dispute, but without invalidating, the perspectives and concerns raised by smallholder farmers and MSMEs in the FGDs. Conflicting perspectives and deviations in the interventions proposed were expected, especially that the event intentionally pooled various stakeholders with varying interests. The following key areas of divergence were noted: First, farmers and MSMEs expressed the need for large-scale post-harvest facilities. Other stakeholders, however, proposed that t... Read morehe interventions should be small-scale, modular, localised and, as much as possible, powered via sustainable energy sources. We are keen on supporting the latter, given the investment required could be lower as well as the ease in implementation and management of community-level interventions. Second, there was a debate on the benefits of mechanisation. It was raised that investments on machinery would help farmers save on production cost (due to lower labour cost), allowing them to price their organic/ natural produce at more competitive rates. The counter argument, on the other hand, was premised on the weak labour laws and very low wages of farm workers in the Philippines. Hence, it was suggested that employing people should be preferred, shifting the focus to improving agricultural labour conditions. After all, many smallholder farmers could not afford mechanisation and, even for larger farms, hiring labourers would be more affordable than investing in expensive, and often imported, machines that need costly maintenance. Whilst we recognise that mechanisation would be necessary in some parts of the food value chain, particularly in addressing wastage during harvesting, we resonate more with protecting the livelihoods of farm workers, given that equitability in food systems should encompass all actors. To reduce production cost, however, farm owners could explore low-cost, natural farming methods like JADAM. Moreover, we align ourselves with the preservation of culture in rural communities, underscored by the continuation of ‘traditional’ sustainable farming practices across families and generations. Hence, we remain critical of importing capital-intensive technology and machinery from big companies, which could not only sideline the ‘peasant way’ of production but also perpetuate the industrialised system that has caused many of the problems raised in the Dialogue. Third, there was a debate on the definition of “farmer”, especially that some participants did not clearly distinguish between the landed (farm owners) and the landless (farm workers). It was pointed out that each group has differing needs and, thus, would require unique interventions. Farm workers, for example, would require greater bargaining power for their produce, particularly in terms of getting daily wages and a fair share of earnings when productivity becomes higher than expected. Whilst this complex issue staddles the mandates of both the DA and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), it was proposed that farm owners should take the main initiative to address it. Resolving this issue, however, would require hearing directly from farm labourers, which were not adequately represented in the Dialogue due to the mobility restrictions brought about by the ongoing pandemic. This should be the subject of further consultations. Fourth, slight differences in opinion about the willingness of farmers to diversify crops due to the entrenched culture of monocropping surfaced. Some premised their position on practicality, expressing disinterest due to the higher cost associated with crop diversification in the current food system. Others, however, insisted on the willingness of producers to diversify if proper support is given. We believe that enabling conditions, both in policy and practice, would have to be in place to deter monocropping. And fifth, opposing views over the apparent inability to dream and the subscription to the familial psychology of poverty among small-scale producers also emerged. There was a debate as to whether the problem lies on the farmer’s mindset or on the structural conditions that hinder prosperity in agricultural livelihoods. Based on the previous studies conducted by IISLA, we found out that whilst the generally aging farmers have encouraged their children to pursue other careers, a wave of young people have been showing renewed interest in farming. We therefore place our hope in young agripreneurs, believing that, with the right support, they would continue producing for food security whilst achieving the livelihood prosperity thought to be unattainable by the generation before them. Read less

Food distribution – Lack of adequate communication and logistics infrastructure Dialogue participants acknowledged the lack of suitable and inexpensive distribution channels serving smaller volumes of organic/ natural produce. This was an issue not only to farmers practicing crop diversification but also to MSMEs servicing the retail market. Communicating with farmers was another issue raised by other stakeholders, given that they are at their farms most of the time. Some even recounted how they would need to contact farmers at 3 or 4 AM before they go to their farms. In the FGDs, farmers an... Read mored MSMES pushed for the establishment of large-scale warehousing and cold storage facilities, although participants in the ‘main’ Dialogue disagreed that this would be the most effective approach. Other stakeholders suggested focusing first on modernising harvest and post-harvest procedures. An agriculture expert, for example, pointed out that vegetables should ideally be pre-cooled at the farm before bringing them to the trading posts to reduce condensation and extend shelf life by 50%, which refrigerated delivery vans could not address. Moreover, instead of large-scale storage facilities near post-harvest sites, participants of the ‘main’ Dialogue suggested smaller, modular, and movable facilities near retail outlets and homes, powered by solar. In terms of packaging, demands for sustainability were often countered with practicality issues. One participant in the ‘main’ Dialogue, for example, argued that plastics should not be completely banned as they are sometimes the best packaging for certain products. This argument was rebutted by two organisations working on the manufacturing of bio-plastics made from cassava and sweet potato. Whilst concerns were raised on the solubility of bio-plastics, which make them unfit for wet goods, it was pointed out that research and development is already ongoing to make bio-plastics suitable for fresh produce, long transport, and warm weather. However, we remain cautious of the need to minimise waste. The use of bio-plastics, therefore, should be coupled with increased composting practices, implying the need to capacitate both producers and consumers on proper waste disposal. It should also be noted that invited representatives from the logistics and transport sector did not show up in the Dialogue. Recognising their crucial role in food systems, we would continue to reach out to them to understand their challenges and to co-create interventions that would make them effective partners in addressing the plight of food producers. Read less

Food distribution: Lack of entrepreneurial skills Many smallholder farmers in the Philippines are engaged in subsistence farming, growing cash crops like rice, corn, and sugar. The lack of entrepreneurial mindset among these farmers have been linked to the entrenched culture of monocropping, which has allowed them to sell their produce in a single transaction to traders rather than encouraging them to think of ways to sell various crops. According to one participant of the ‘main’ Dialogue, the shift towards crop diversification would therefore require educating farmers on basic marketing s... Read morekills. Other participants also pointed out that improving the business skills of farmers should start with those interested so they could set an example to others. It was also suggested that ‘bigger’ farmers with existing business knowledge could be tapped to mentor other farmers. Whilst we have underscored the need to further capacitate farmers on organic/ natural production practices, education on the proper costing and pricing of produce should also be prioritised to ensure that they could establish better relationships with buyers rather than negotiating with them on a per transaction basis. Furthermore, sustainable production and business management training could only be effective when there is an interest to learn among trainees. Hence, we believe that changing mindsets through values formation programmes may be a necessary first step for some producers. Read less

Rural financing: Difficulty in accessing funds Dialogue participants noted that the issue on accessing funds stems not only from bureaucratic processing but also from high interest rates, high bank risks, and lack of financial literacy among farmers. They confirmed that some farmers would still go for '5-6' schemes (i.e. informal lenders charging as high as 20% interest rate per month) because they are simple - no collateral required and cash is received instantaneously. Loan processing, therefore, should be made simpler to encourage farmers and MSMEs to access formal lending, but with modifie... Read mored (lower) interest rates. A microfinance provider commented that loans would need to be released instantaneously (i.e. one-day processing), coupled with financial literacy and credit discipline training as well as regular visits to guide producers in their transformation. Another participant argued that whilst documentation requirements in formal institutions may be tedious, the difficulty is often encountered only in accessing loan for the first time. Once the producer is already registered in the banking system, subsequent loan applications would become easier. Simplifying the requirements for credit access, therefore, should be coupled with financial management education, including budgeting and forecasting. This would ensure that farmers and MSMEs would be able to absorb capital effectively and use funds appropriately, without ending up trapped in a debt spiral. Moreover, delivering such education programmes could be more efficient if producers are organised into associations or cooperatives for easier coordination and establishment of learning support systems. In the FGDs, farmers expressed how contract growing could help them find clarity in terms of the right amount of capital that they have to borrow. Again, this underscored the need for proper market access. In order to supply bigger volumes without being forced to engage in monocropping, Dialogue participants proposed that farmers organise themselves to aggregate production. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) could assist in forming such organisations whilst aggregators/ traders could facilitate market linkage. An NGO participant also suggested building an ecosystem that would cater to and fund both the development and trade aspirations of farmers. Development funding would support capacity building whilst trade support would improve market linkages. A platform that could allow capital from private investments, government funding and/or international aid to support both components would have to be established. It was also suggested that the platform should move through a circular model that supports the entire supply chain. We agree that establishing platforms integrating livelihood support in the empowerment process of smallholder farmers would be necessary. Making credit access easier would be incomplete if farmers are not capacitated in managing their funds. Furthermore, MSMEs, which account for 99% of businesses in the country, should also have better access to capital. If existing channels do not work for them, alternative models of capital distribution must be given urgent attention. Read less

Rural financing: High interest rates Under the Agri-Agra Law, banks are mandated to allocate a portion of their lending portfolio to agriculture; however, they are also required to maintain a prescribed capital adequacy ratio (CAR). This makes it difficult for them to take the high risk associated with lending to farmers and MSMEs, given the higher provision required. The Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), for example, is classified as a universal bank, implying that it is mandated to fulfil certain CAR and profitability requirements. This deters a financial institution that is supposed to ca... Read moreter to the farming and fisheries sector from fulfilling its obligations. A participant from a microfinance NGO affirmed that individual loans from LBP follow commercial rates. Despite various legislative inquiries, LBP constantly admitted that it lacked the infrastructure to offer collateral-free lending to farmers. It was suggested that NGOs could fill this gap by acting as loan conduits if banks would give them good (lower) interest rates. Having worked with farmers for so long, NGOs would be in a better position to facilitate and manage collateral-free lending. In reality though, banks do not lend to NGOs and would rather pay the penalties for not complying with the required allocation for agriculture. A previous study conducted by IISLA, which mapped out the flow of capital globally and domestically, suggests that there is an abundance of capital circulating in the market. The challenge, however, is bridging that capital so it can reach and be utilised by investment-ready agripreneurs at affordable rates. Efficient channels for capital to reach smallholder farmers and MSMEs whilst ensuring that these small-scale businesses effectively manage their finances must therefore be in place. Read less

Rural financing - Poverty psychology; low interest in accessing funds Participants of the ‘main’ Dialogue shared their observations of farmers not seeing a future in farming for their children. Sending their children to school had been anchored on the desire for them to have salaried jobs in the future. In extreme circumstances, farmers were more concerned of putting food on the table rather than pursuing their dreams of owning their farmland, being debt free, and/or having more working capital. It was suggested that forming cooperatives could help empower farmers, given that government lo... Read moreans are usually channeled through these organisations and that they could become platforms for savings and alternative income. Moreover, a participant from a church-based organisation also emphasised the importance of educating farmers in differentiating personal/ household needs from farm (enterprise) requirements. This would ensure that expenses do not get mixed up. Another suggestion in improving farmer income would be to link them with bigger companies through their corporate social responsibility (CSR) to improve market and logistics access. NGOs and microfinance institutions (MFIs) providing loan products to farmers should also work with relevant government agencies like PhilGuarantee, which could provide assistance should farmers become delinquent with their loan payments. A participant of the ‘main’ Dialogue also proposed that farmers be turned into a “trans-farmer” - one who is business-minded and utilises technologies, especially those in relation to finance. This could be attractive to the young people who are being encouraged to pursue farming as a profession. Lastly, it was suggested that perhaps we should stop focusing on maximising profit, given that farmers still need to survive in a competitive environment. Instead, investment should be allocated to reform the entire value chain, integrating different aspects of agriculture into a system that promotes food sovereignty. We agree in focusing first on systemic interventions, knowing that capital would naturally flow in the food system when there is an enabling environment to properly manage it, not necessarily to generate high profits, but rather to effectively achieve food security and equitable prosperity whilst protecting people and the planet. Read less

For decades, the concept of food security in the Philippines has been premised on productivity and supply, leading to agricultural policies that favoured the industrial practices perpetuated by large agro-industrial companies, and eroding the freedom of farmers over what and how to produce. Reconfiguring this narrative requires shifting attention towards food sovereignty, emphasising not only the principles of sustainable production via agroecology, but also the return of the ‘true’ ownership of livelihoods to the producers themselves. This is crucial in securing the income of rural commun... Read moreities, especially smallholder farmers and MSMEs who comprise more than 80 percent of food producers worldwide. To what extent do small-scale food producers have control over their livelihoods in Philippine food systems? Whilst there has been a recent increase in investment for agriculture and food processing in the country, producers and consumers have been structurally disconnected by a lengthened value chain. Moreover, there is also the need to expand regenerative and resilient agriculture practices to avert environmental degradation and climate change, and to increase the capacity of smallholder farmers and MSMEs in accessing affordable funding. Unless systemic changes are implemented to ensure that producers can afford their capital requirements and earn a decent living from their livelihoods, it would be impossible to achieve stable and sustainable food systems towards securing healthy, nutritious, and affordable food for all. The Independent Dialogue curated by IISLA focused on Action Track 4, primarily the advancement of equitable livelihood in Philippine food systems. It covered four thematic areas: food production, food processing and consumption, food distribution, and rural financing. Whilst it is recognised that food sovereignty advocates in the country and globally have been lobbying for the protection of farmers’ livelihoods against big corporations, the expressed resentment towards the UNFSS could imply limited representation of small-scale producers in the actual Summit. IISLA attempted to bridge this gap by anchoring its Dialogue on the plight of smallholder farmers and MSMEs. For food production, the discussion centred around sustainable farming practices and the support needed to transition from conventional methods. Farmers tackled the challenges in adopting organic/ natural/ regenerative farming and the problems of high waste during harvesting. MSMEs discussed concerns in using sustainably-grown raw materials for processing. Discussions on food processing and consumption looked into the preparation of food before consumption, including preservation and packaging, and its implications for nutrition. Farmers tackled the challenges in promoting crop diversification to support the food variety needed for a healthy diet. MSMEs, on the other hand, discussed how to foster innovation in the way food is produced, processed, and packaged so it can be made healthier and more affordable for all. Issues on logistics, packaging, warehousing, handling, and trading platforms, and their implications for the accessibility and affordability of food in the local market were tackled in food distribution. The discussion highlighted the challenges faced by farmers in selling their produce, including the use of digital platforms, as well as the problems of MSMEs in marketing products and accessing new markets. Recognising that systemic interventions require resources, access to capital and the readiness to embrace fair investment among smallholder farmers and MSMEs were the main topics in rural financing. Farmers tackled how they currently fund their production whilst MSMEs outlined their biggest investment requirements. The participants also discussed challenges and experiences in accessing funding from formal institutions, especially the government. The rest of the stakeholders validated the challenges expressed by small-scale food producers based on their respective expertise and experiences. They then agreed on proposed systemic interventions and the roles of various food system actors in realising them, including the UN. Read less