Explore Official Dialogue Feedback

Session 6: Intergenerational dialogue on traditional knowledge: Indigenous youth and elders together. Mr. Antine Sonde We need to ensure basic rights to land, and also explicitly include nomadic pastoralists in the conversation surrounding solutions for food systems Dr. Mariam Wallet Aboubakrine Transmission of Indigenous knowledge systems must be protected There should be avenues for access to traditional knowledge and Indigenous food system ways - such as an incorporation into school curriculums Ms. Sandra Bandura In the steps towards reconciliation we need to protect against the extraction ... Read moreof knowledge Academic research should be conducted following Indigenous peoples’ ways and values Mr. Clayton Brascoupe There needs to be investment into communities to create opportunities for young people to remain in their communities without setting themselves further behind Read less

Panel 5: Indigenous youth's innovation and traditional knowledge for food systems transformation. Ms. Mariah Gladstone, Founder of Indigikitchen (Indigenous digital kitchen), USA Entered this work because food systems have been targeted by colonial governments to stop our resistance. Quote: “It is cheaper in the end to feed the whole flock for a year then fight them for a week” = putting us on cheap rations and restricting our ability to feed ourselves was cheaper than fighting us. Native people for a time were almost completely dependent on rations - things we did not even view as food, t... Read morehey were not our traditional meals. Then, a transition into subsidized meals, and now, the commodity food program. There are clear negative health impacts within our communities due to these foods - diet related illnesses. The disconnect from our food systems is not due to limitations to obtain food, but due to a disconnect from our knowledge systems and traditional foods. I started indigkitchen to help close this gap. It incorporates Indigenous foods, but in a modern way - utilizes social media, our modern kitchen but revitalizes our ancestral knowledge with an emphasis on fresh and healthy food and rebuilding our food systems. Mr. Nutdanai Trakansuphakon, Co-founder and Owner of Little Farm in Big Forest, Thailand Social enterprise work based on traditional knowledge focused on rotational farming. We use this process to understand and respect nature. It is a sustainable mechanism to maintain resources in our community. We want to communicate this to more communities, and we use our food and the number of species we are able to grow to share the importance and benefits (such as increased biodiversity) of rotational farming Little Farm in Big Forest connects storytelling to communicate base knowledge by using social media to help communicate traditional knowledge. It also helps build awareness from space of experience to customer: tastings, rotational farming workshops, learn together, bring in people from outside the community and all bring together ideas Capacity building and community funding, making space to transmit knowledge, use a local curriculum and elders come to teach in the schools including nutrition education. Mr. Amoz Yator, Member of Kipkandule Code Area, Kenya We want to preserve the food systems within the communities considering it is being endangered by the current plight of Indigenous youth into urban areas (which is due to factors from global warming, advancement of tech and modernization). In the wake of this plight the rural areas were left without anyone to continue the food systems. Main activity of the KCA group is to share information - intergenerational sharing of information - the youth have access to modern education compared to the elders - so we wanted to merge the modern and the traditional ways. Originally nomadic pastoralists with only a small bit of farming, but due to global warming and reduced lands, have limited space to practice nomadic pastoralism, so transitioned to more farming. Youth is the largest proportion of the population in most of the communities ~ 75% so they need to play a bigger role in preserving Indigenous food systems, and harness their knowledge from formal education, and access to smartphones and internet compared to elders, and increased financial services (we are using whatsapp now, to bring knowledge from the youth and various specialists to the community on how to incorporate modern ag into the food systems) In order to bridge the info generational gap we need to develop mobile apps that can store info on important Indigenous food information to help preserve information and ways to preserve food systems. It would also let the youth incorporate more modern tech Ms. Claudia Albertina Ruiz, Chef, Mexico- Traditional gastronomy - I try and get the youth to connect to the flavors of the dishes, connect to the experiences and show them the holistic involvement, bringing what they are eating back to who grows the foods Still lots of discrimination still towards Indigenous Peoples. There is a lack of connection to food these days. Read less

Session 4: Regional presentations and open discussion Commonalities: land, rights, going back to our spiritual base, there is no food without our land. Multiple regional reports mentioned integrating traditional foods into schools or other community centers, importance of land rights, decriminalization of foodways, Indigenous Peoples represented in policy decisions Jairo Gualinga Protections for land grabbing in Latin American countries Carson Kiburo Need capacity building for intergenerational knowledge sharing Youth need to be included, women need to be included in the policy making process,... Read more the whole process, from the start Need to have access to land and affordable facilities - equitable structures in place such as credit lending Malachi Indigenous habitats, environments, and resources need to be protected Legal and regulatory rights - cultural rights to hunt, gather, trade and traditional resources Need to introduce Indigenous knowledge in schools and curriculums Intellectual property rights to protect Indigenous knowledge and Indigenous medicines in the marketplace Demilitarization, decolonization, decriminalization Sarah Rourke Ask UN member states to support traditional harvests and the integration of traditional foods into schools. Stop criminalizing Indigenous foodways Indigenous access to land, provide sponsors for equitable compensation for knowledge, end exploitation in the food system, uhold our right to transmit our knowledge systems Miriam Andrew-Ming Indigenous Peoples need collective rights to land realized, as well as access to local education Must use FPIC and protection of collective rights as mechanisms in our countries Read less

Session 3: Panel with 7 youth from all socio-cultural regions: What do Indigenous youth have to tell the world about their food. Mr. Malachi Johnson: Teach our younger kids the significance of traditional food, cultural knowledge. It is very important that we keep connecting to country because it will help lead us into a healthier life. Education to improve Indigenous Peoples quality of life and agency in managing their resources Navadu, Mother Earth. Heals and provides everything. We are all siblings, we need to take care of each other. Control corporative business that are taking away the la... Read morends and traditional food sources Ms. Antonia Benito: Strengthen the legal framework Recognize the Holistic approach: food sovereignty and right to self-determination Strengthen Intergenerational transmitting of traditional knowledge Revitalize practices Ms. Qivioq Nivi Løvstrøm: Ending mining/resource extraction on Indigenous Peoples lands as opposed and protested by the people Teaching traditional food harvesting and preparation in schools Food sovereignties need to be recognized: ICC Alaska food sovereignty summit has generated shared priorities and vision for managing traditional food resources Tackle rising costs of food. Mr. Subodh Chaudhary: Our concern must be the food processing technique and the food preservation method. We must recognize our Indigenous foods, preserve them and scale them exponentially. We all need to come together to pressure governments to positive change for food security. Ms. Mariah Gladstone: Building gardens for community members, Supplying traditional foods through emergency food pantries Provide funds to Indigenous community members grow traditional food plants and provide tools to create businesses for these foods, which are purchased through public procurement programs Community celebrations sharing traditional food processing methods and sharing, experiencing traditional foods Mr. Yves Minani: Policies that strengthen food security, land access Issue policy specific to young Indigenous people, give access to land and natural resources Study the structural conditions that lead to unequal access to resources, loss of traditional ways of life Support the initiatives of youth Indigenous people, empower the youth Ms. Sargylana Atlasova: Finance construction of transport and logistical infrastructure facilities to create upper links of value chains, technical equipment and provision of life for Indigenous People to maintain traditional forms of economy and preserve their way of life Environmental policy needs a change in attitude to the land resources, particularly concerning the mining industry: Provide equal right to the land, follow up principles of SDGs Enhance local legislation for agricultural development, and programs for supporting farm enterprises, considering traditional knowledge and traditional forms of economy of Indigneous Peoples Develop a program for adaptation of agriculture in the north to global climate change. Pathway for youth to be involved and develop source of income from traditional livelihoods to allow more option for Youth to remain in their rural communities Read less

High Level Remarks on Indigenous Youth: Aiwan Minz We need to protect our Indigenous food systems We can use technology to preserve, promote and sustain our Indigenous food systems Mr. Geoffrey Roth: UNPFII has repeatedly called on States, UN agencies and funds to enhance participation of Indigenous youth, build capacity and advocacy skills of Indigenous Youth Recognize youth as equal partners in developing lasting partnerships at local, regional and international levels In consultations leading up to the UNFSS, Indigenous youth have shared how they’d like to see the maintenance of Tradition... Read moreal Knowledge related to food systems and environment. They are concerned with adverse effects of climate change, and loss of lands and traditional livelihoods. Free and prior informed consent should be at the center of all initiatives. Exchange between youth and elders and intergenerational cooperation is key and crucial for the future of our way of life H.E. Ambassador Alexandra Bugailiskis: As we move towards the UNFSS, it is critical for Indigenous youth to be at the table. It is about your future. H.E. spoke of recent policy changes in Canada, which could serve as examples for the way forward: Appointment of Commissioner of Indigenous languages to lead independent office of the Commissioner of Indigenous languages. Allowing Indigenous people to use their Indigenous names in their passports and other official identification National Food policy that recognizes Indigenous rights and self-determination, informed by extensive consultation with Indigenous organizations. H.E. Ambassador Mr. Miguel Jorge García Winder: Strengthen the education (access to higher and formal education) Strengthen the infrastructure to access the education (buildings, roads, internet access) Strengthen the legislation effecting Youth Ms. Beth Bechdol: Hopes this forum is just the start and a turning point to ensure more meaningful dialogues with indigenous youth She spoke of FAO initiatives that are good practices and policies: Implement FPIC in all projects Implement the VGGTs Promote the co-creation of knowledge through platforms such as the Global hub Ms. Hindou Ibrahim: Indigenous Youth need to be at the table and part of decision-making. They will be the next entrepreneurs of their communities to sustain food security. Legislation needs to be changed to enable youth participation: to secure land rights and tenure. Indigenous Peoples need mechanisms and spaces and access to funds/funding. How else can we develop the programs and projects that allow young people to stay at home to do and value these activities? Ms. Mai Thin Yu Mon: The UNFSS should carry forward the recommendations made by Indigenous youth through this forum This will not be the final forum, but the opening of a platform for Indigenous youth from all over the world to voice our concerns and contribute into worldly matters Ms. Jessica Vega Ortega: we need to de-colonialize, respect human rights, take into account Youth, children, women, Mr. Yon Fernández-de-Larrinoa: Appeals to all Ambassadors and countries to come up with intercultural policies, schooling and educational plans that do not destroy marginalize indigenous peoples’ cultures and food systems. The Rome Statement made by Indigenous Youth in 2017 is a major contribution made by indigenous youth to end food insecurity This forum will result in a robust declaration from indigenous youth to inform the way forward. Read less

The main findings were summarized in a Declaration issued by Indigenous Youth with the following recommendations (an excerpt): Indigenous youth urge the UN Secretary-General, Member States, and other relevant stakeholders to adhere to the following recommendations: 1. Recognize the rights of Indigenous Peoples within the framework of Human Rights and the obligations of the United Nations Charter, regardless of the population size of the people concerned. Member States must recognize the criterion of self-identification. Indigenous Peoples right to self-determination in all aspects affecting th... Read moreeir food systems should be duly respected. 2. Recognize the customary law of Indigenous Peoples over our territories and the ancestral ties with our lands and territories; we Indigenous Youth are the current and future custodians of our lands and territories. 3. Meaningfully engage with Indigenous Youth in the Action Tracks and Action Areas, recognizing Indigenous Youth as experts on resilience and sustainable food systems, keepers of first-hand experiences with extreme climatic changes, and holders of rich cultural traditional knowledge of our food systems. 4. Fully integrate an understanding of the characteristics of Indigenous Peoples’ food systems into the Summit process, as well as an understanding of the importance of these food systems for food system transformation towards resilience and sustainability, into the development of new game changing solutions, policy proposals and commitments. 5. Consider Indigenous Peoples’ food systems a game-changing solution in themselves, for their unique characteristics and holistic nature, as well as the lessons to be learned by the rest of the world from our food systems. 6. Value Indigenous Peoples’ traditional knowledge equally as scientific knowledge. We, Indigenous Peoples, are the local observers and experts of the environment. The value of our traditional knowledge also calls for equitable inclusion, and very importantly, fair compensation as established in the Nagoya Protocol on access to benefit-sharing to traditional knowledge. 7. Work with Indigenous Peoples to establish intercultural education programmes; recognising Indigenous Youth need to learn about our traditional food systems, cultural heritage and key knowledge to sustain our food systems. 8. Develop Intellectual property legislative frameworks recognizing and protecting Indigenous Peoples’ traditional knowledge systems. Guarantee Indigenous Peoples’ control over our Traditional Knowledge for effective intergenerational transfer of our knowledge, without the risk of misappropriation or misuse by third parties. 9. Biocentric ecological restoration must be urgently prioritized by Member States and relevant stakeholders, as it is the insurance for our collective future on the planet and the surest way to mitigate the impacts of climate change. 10. Develop emergency preparedness, response and climate change adaptation plans with us, that respect our traditional governance and decision-making processes. We have agency in our preparedness and responses. 11. Ensure that Indigenous Youth are granted access to our lands and territories in order to protect and uphold our cultural rights and carry forward our food systems. 12. Grant Indigenous Youth tailor-made affordable credit facilities to allow them financial stability to carry forward Indigenous Peoples Food Systems and to support the development of Indigenous Youth’s enterprises. Create spaces for Indigenous Peoples to sell our products. Ensure decent equal employment opportunities that guarantee labour rights free of discrimination and with social protection. 13. Develop training plans for new technologies in Indigenous languages that allow, within the framework of interculturality, to develop the capacities of Indigenous Youth to create local plans for the conservation of traditional knowledge through actions of innovation that combine ancestral knowledge with new technologies. 14. Commit to investing in infrastructure and capacity building for and by Indigenous Peoples’ communities to build accredited processing centres for foods, community gardens/growing areas for traditional foods, and connecting to composting, recycling systems and networks to reduce waste. We ask funders, private sector and government to commit funds to Indigenous-led programming and training for Indigenous Youth’s capacity development and education. We Indigenous Youth recognize the historical struggles and demands of our peoples. The struggle begun by our grandmothers and grandfathers resulted in the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which contains the basic demands and priorities for a dignified life. Today, we, the Indigenous Youth, assume the fundamental task of making these rights real and possible at all levels in the pursuit of a world where all may live in harmony with Mother Earth. We acknowledge the collaborative nature of this work, and call upon Member States, UN Agencies, NGOs, Scientific community and the Private Sector for better coordination, to stand in solidarity with us, and to value us as essential partners. At minimum, we ask all parties to ensure our inclusion and uphold existing legal frameworks, such as legal recognition and FPIC. We ask all parties to centre reciprocity in processes with Indigenous Youth and Indigenous Peoples, while respecting and valuing our knowledge and governance systems. Read less

The Focus of the dialogue was to explore Indigenous youth's concerns, needs and innovative solutions for food systems transformation. It relates to all five action tracks and most solution clusters, as Indigenous youth are largely affected my the majority of these policies, yet have not had a say to have them adjusted to their realities. The Forum aimed to open a space for them to have a say, and have their perspectives brought forward to the UNFSS Process.

No particular areas of divergence emerged amongst participants.

6. LIFE ECONOMY Vision : Citizens actively engage in the construction of a “Life Economy” which recognizes, protects and nurtures life - namely health, Nature, social and personal well-being and creativity. By 2030, we want to re-establish a regenerative relationship with the soil based on traditional practices, but which also facilitates transitional systems to bring food producers and consumers into a new economy. We need to establish a common understanding of essential baseline markers and substances, such as the wellbeing of our soil and the watershed. Simultaneously, we require a more... Read more sophisticated and attuned understanding of financial flows, especially on what we invest, and the necessity on seeing those investments flow into the hands of those who have their hands in soil. We need a better and more commonplace understanding of the 9 planetary boundaries and learn best the language of the wellness of the earth and how it correlates to the wellness of the beings. We need to see the climate crisis in terms of crisis management and use learnings from how we deal with man-made conflicts- and realise that we are indeed at war- and get smart fast. We need to see the mechanisms of interrelatedness and interconnectedness, equal to complexity, restoring our sense of complexity and learning from nature. Policy makers need to look at the true value of food, not just look at its cost but also its impact on people and health We require a design that supports living systems, where humans are understood as interlopers, all we need to do is allow earth to do what it knows best. Value is currently distributed, and captured at retail level. if you want to change, you have to act on consumers, not just production and producers. Poor people can’t afford to buy food for a healthy diet, so they cannot make that choice. We need to think how we empower those two groups, think about how policies are set, as both voters and consumers. Many of the dialogues are dominated by public sectors and large NGOs and we need to think about how to bring these other voices into the decision making process. Business is increasingly looking at the necessity of having a systems approach. On this level, we need to understand the true value of food, and also the true cost associated with it: the social and environmental cost. Science, data and innovation are key, reflecting the hidden cost of land use, and who bears this cost. We need to evolve a common language of empathy, between ourselves and the earth, and at every junction of the food chain, where we have accord respect and dignity to every vendor, consumer, retailer, farmer, butcher, restaurateur and even to the animals and soil itself. We require a language of equity, working with natural bio-markers such as soil and watersheds, to create a common language amongst all stakeholders. We need to bring all parties with us, using digital spaces as open public infrastructure where we can connect as both farmers and citizens. Read less

5. PARTNERSHIPS AND DIALOGUE Vision : Cooperation, empathy, trust and communication establish the foundations for partnerships that enable food systems to provide nutritious foods and social, cultural and economic opportunities for all. The empowerment and the voice of local, indigenous farmers and their networks is key. A sustainable food system of partnerships will be a movement at the local level, and that of the town, city, public institutions. The ecology of the future will be place-based with energy and action resting with local authorities. This in turn will lead to better governance, a... Read morend engagement with people and authorities. Our current centralised distribution of food extinguishes dialogue. Very few farmers can perhaps manage more than 3 partnerships, and 90% of the retail economy belongs to dominant corporates such as Tesco or Walmart, leading to very expensive (and definitely not local) food. The priority must be absolutely all about getting the value of the food trade really reaching where it’s needed. If Via Campesina - the practising farmers working with nature- is boycotting the Food Summit, we need to engage them and why they feel it’s not listening to them and their needs. We therefore need practical actions involving key stakeholders - farmers, workers, etc- that will work with real practical legal, investment, policy, and other solutions We recognise we live in challenging times. Promoting biodiversity will only proceed in dialogue with policy makers. But the wrong governance emerges when we exclude women’s voices, minorities and indigenous peoples Any platform through which people can communicate, must bring voices from the ground to an obviate restrictive hierarchies. The predicate for all those working in the food system must be one of empathy, in which nonconventional partnerships are allowed to emerge, inc National representatives from the local farmers. Discussions must remain open, formulated around an action plan with a necessary creativity with whom you engaged, bringing those who really know the food system, giving people a voice, actors that live there, maintaining the environment, visions together. Stop the world: People have the right to negotiate The food system in the future will embed values and principles ● Community and reconciliation ● A healing, almost medicinal resiliency ● Dialogue and engagement ● Our energy, supply, network, dominated by large companies, will be reconfigured more equitably from centralized to people, and especially more representative of women Food equity will include increasing income for small farmers; favouring farmers more as participants, and consumers less so, with more accessible financing and easing capital flows to farmers directly. Read less

4. EDUCATION Vision : The education and cultural values shared with children and all consumers empowers them to make healthy food choices for them, the planet, and for all members of society. The group identified 8 areas where education on food and nutrition needs to happen. First, governments have an important role to play in guiding the public and private sector towards healthy food through taxes, policies, funding, etc. Second, schools should ensure that education on healthy food and nutrition is included in curricula and that healthy diets are promoted in school meals. Food is vital for ch... Read moreildren to be able to learn. However, education on food and nutrition is so much more than just memorizing facts. Education on food and education should be needs-based and experiential for children. Third, parents and families at home also have a role to play in teaching children about the value of food, especially through important cultural experiences, such as cooking or farming. In this context, ancestral knowledge on food and nutrition should be promoted. Fourth, the private sector can also leverage its marketing and advertising for good and help educate children through labels or packaging. This is especially vital as children do not only learn in school but also in supermarkets when they see food advertised and marketed. Fifth, NGOs and other stakeholders in the area of food and nutrition need to use synergies and collaborate more often rather than working independently. Sixth, chefs and other thought or industry leaders can also help with education on food and nutrition by making it fun. Seventh, farmers can bring us the production side of food closer to us and educate us on how to farm. And lastly, we need to learn from food and let food be the teacher itself. Read less

3. INTERGENERATIONAL SOLIDARITY Vision : Our food systems are grounded in and foster solidarity between generations. They provide opportunities for the youth, build on the experience of our elders, and meet the needs for nutritious of all generations. Food has been disconnected from story, people, and landscape. Connection with food is generally inherited from parents but, generally speaking, today “inheritance has been broken”. There is little to inherit in a world where “food is just something on a supermarket shelf and has no story”. Our parents encouraged good practices at home, bu... Read moret these are lost once we start school and emerge into the wider world. The food system we in the West inherit from our parents is the 40-50’s food system of convenience and which was supported by an emerging advertising sector which focused on the spectacularizing of food. In Michigan, speakers mentioned “Taste the Local Distance”, an organisation whiose core idea is “taking the small holder farms and making them more mainstream.”, specifying that it is not just about artisanal food, but also about building ties with education: “a real change can be made when children go get food and see and know how that food was made and who made it”. “We need A 10 year program and should take national funding to do that”. Another participant agreed on the “broken connection in this intergenerational food transition”, reflecting upon the fact that in multicultural societies all of the beautiful food traditions have been subsumed by the industrial food production and processed foods. An interesting aspect that he brought up was the perception people have of the background of the food they consume: “we take food from this food system that entails labor violation, soil exploitations etc. This is destructive on so many levels, but it is sold to us like happy farms.” What he would wish were done for the next generation is thinking more about local food and labelling and focusing attention on understanding where our food comes from, eliciting more interest in indigenous food systems. The role of “indigenous knowledge in food systems” was commonly stressed. Read less

2. CONNECTING AND LISTENING TO NATURE Vision: A renewed and deepened connection to the natural world, nourished by respect, wonder and a state of listening, guides the transformation of our food systems towards restoration and equity. In places like Senegal where people used to produce their own organic food, share meals and thus assure more food security and less waste, the introduction of cash crops broke this equilibrium. Today what used to be savanna is a desert, nature is becoming poorer. People living near the river can’t drink the water because of pesticides or parasites. Nature has i... Read morets rules: if we understand them, we can implement a new, symbiotic economy. As a society we are part of a whole, bigger macrobiotic which embeds nature: we must realize that our well-being and survival depends on Earth, and viceversa. While dominant cultures sustain a sense that our species stands apart from the natural world, others have always nourished a deep sense of connection and harmony with Nature. We can integrate indigenous people into academy, master classes, where they can support reconnection with nature. Education is the key of future generations; building bridges between indigenous knowledge and sciences may lead to a mindset reboot. Paradoxically, business people who contribute to the disruption of the ecosystem may seek restoration of nature in their free time. Can we help people drop this mask, bearing in mind that actions should be coherent with values, and deepen our connection with nature in business and negotiations? Be curious about how food arrives on our tables. When we use chemicals on food, we have to be aware that we are consuming them. The pandemic revealed the limits of globalization and unrestricted capitalism, we have a chance to pursue the few big companies who control the food industry. Policy makers must seize this by encouraging regenerative approaches and pushing action more toward the SDGs. We need to drive the the global food system in regenerative agriculture and redefine profitability. We need to redefine basic notions: what are health, wealth, happiness? There’s more money in circulation than ever but we are not happier. We must find ways to connect with nature while feeding everyone. We need to consult everyone in order to solve these challenges: divisions will not work in terms of food security and nature regeneration, efforts to restore Nature must be participatory. By according trees, water, soil the dignity and intelligence of living things, we can support reconnection by asking ourselves “is this choice going to cause harm to people or nature?” And realise that these are both the same thing. Read less

1. CARE AND COMPASSION Vision : Care and compassion for ourselves, others and Nature, inherent to the way food is produced, processed, sold and consumed. a) We need to see love and compassion at all stages of the food system and across all actors, from farmers, through to production, processing, packaging, distribution, consumption and disposal. ● Love and compassion is most commonly associated with the production level of the food system, particularly small farmers, who are so connected to the ebbs and flows of the land through their daily work. ● But love can be experienced at all levels... Read more of the food system, including consumers, it all depends on the individual actors. For example, mothers cooking for their families or chefs cooking display love. ● As food systems shift from local production through to larger industrial methods, there is often a disconnection with land and scaling down of compassion. We need to find ways of extending love and compassion across all levels of the food system, possibly through fostering a greater connection to the land. Also, by learning from the other elements in the food system, we can raise awareness of how one’s own behaviour can be influential. With knowledge comes compassion so together we can collectively manage a more sustainable system. b) We need to find ways of supporting and engaging small farmers. It’s a difficult career which young people aren’t attracted to, partly because the conditions are tough and there is limited legal protection. This is creating uncertainty in the long-term and farmers could disappear. By engaging universities and academics more, we could connect young people more to farming/the land, and create a different vision. c) We need love and compassion for those actors in the food system who are more vulnerable and less represented. In particular, attention is not being paid to agricultural workers including their rights and compensation. They are often not recognised and lack livelihood security and assets such as land ownership. They are not represented by Trade Unions. We need to find ways of protecting these actors. d) Anywhere in the world there are conditions and constraints that need to be considered, and which are being impacted by climate change: - The constraints and conditions are so problematic in our current food system that farmers don’t have any options. They have so much feeling for the land, but the constraints are uncontrolled. A farmer needs to be incentivised by owning the land, so they can apply sustainable practices. We need to support them to adapt with sustainable practices. e) Until we decouple the food system from economic growth, it will be challenging to change things. Read less

Two issues stood out as core challenges: the loss of connection essential for the well-being of people and planet, and the negative impacts of exploitative economic models. But the conversations focused mostly on the solutions to reestablish connection and compassion to foster food systems that are regenerative, equitable and nourishing in all senses of the word. Loss of connection and compassion Participants observed a loss of connection at several levels: “As food systems shift from local production through to larger industrial methods, there is often a disconnection with land and scaling ... Read moredown of compassion.” “Food has been disconnected from story, people, and landscape.” The culture of food is generally inherited from one’s parents but today “this inheritance has been broken” as “food is just something on a supermarket shelf and has no story”. Destructive economic system and power imbalances “The pandemic revealed the limits of globalization and unrestricted capitalism.” “We take food from this food system that entails labor violation, soil exploitation, etc. This is destructive on so many levels, but it is sold to us like happy farms.” “Our current centralised distribution of food extinguishes dialogue (…) 90% of the retail economy belongs to dominant corporates leading to expensive and definitely not local food.” The limits of this model were illustrated by an example from Senegal, where people used to produce their own organic food, share meals and assure more food security and less waste. The introduction of cash crops broke this equilibrium: today what used to be savanna is a desert. People living near the river can’t drink the water because of pesticides or parasites. Emphasis was given to the economic difficulties faced by the more vulnerable and less represented, especially agricultural workers and small farmers whose rights are seldom ensured, who lack livelihood security and have limited options, as well as poor consumers. One group observed: “Until we decouple the food system from economic growth, it will be challenging to change things.” Love, empathy and compassion These were the starting point and heart of all discussions: “The predicate for all those working in the food system must be one of empathy.” “We need to find ways of extending love and compassion across all levels of the food system”, from the farmer caring for the land to a cook preparing food with love. Participants aspired to see “mechanisms of inter-relatedness and inter-connectedness” restored. They called for “community, reconciliation and healing.” How can this be done? Reconnecting to Nature The importance of reconnecting to and valuing Nature was central. “Nature has its rules: if we understand them, we can implement a new, symbiotic economy” and “while dominant cultures sustain a sense that our species stands apart from the natural world, others have always nourished a deep sense of connection and harmony with Nature.” Bridging indigenous knowledge and science can help foster a “mindset reboot”, including one that “accords trees, water, soil the dignity and intelligence of living things”. Education Education was seen as the key to changing mindsets and heart-sets. “With knowledge comes compassion so together we can collectively manage a more sustainable system.” Education is essential to understand where food comes from, to awaken one’s sensitivity to Nature, to encourage youth to engage in agriculture, to understand the 9 planetary boundaries, and to transmit core values. The following have a fundamental role to play: governments, schools, universities, parents and families, the private sector, NGOs, chefs, industry leaders, farmers, and indigenous peoples. “We also need to let food itself be the teacher.” Communication and dialogue One group called for the need to “evolve a common language of empathy between ourselves and the Earth, and at every junction of the food chain.” It highlighted the opportunity of digital spaces as “open public infrastructure where we can connect as farmers and citizens.” Appreciating true value We need to understand the true value of food and its true social and environmental cost. Some called for “food equity” supported by legal measures, investment, and policies. We require a “new economy” and “a more sophisticated and attuned understanding of financial flows, especially what we invest, and the necessity of seeing those investments flow into the hands of those who have their hands in the soil.” Some observed that “there’s more money in circulation than ever but we are not happier” and called for the need to “redefine basic notions”, such as “health, wealth and happiness”. Going local The group exploring partnerships emphasized the importance of going local: “The ecology of the future will be place-based with energy and action resting with local authorities. This will lead to better governance, and engagement with people and authorities.” “Any platform through which people can communicate, must bring voices from the ground to obviate restrictive hierarchies.” Inclusivity, respect and dignity All groups called for inclusivity, respect and dignity, recognizing the need to hear the voice and empower farmers, women, youth, indigenous peoples and minorities. Participants advocated for nonconventional partnerships and open dialogue that fosters creativity. In brief: “We can support reconnection by asking ourselves: ‘is this choice going to cause harm to people or nature?’ And realise that these are both the same. Read less

This dialogue “Transforming our Food Systems with the Golden Rule: from Listening to Action” focused on the fundamental cultural and spiritual values and attitudes that should underpin and guide the technical, financial and functional solutions being discussed for the Summit if they are to genuinely lead to sustainable and equitable food systems. It was inspired by the “Golden Rule”: “treat others and the planet as you wish to be treated”. The discussions focused on the following six topics which were guided by the following framing: 1. The role of compassion, care and listening in... Read more food systems transformation Since learning to control fire, the hearth has been at the heart of what has bound Homo sapiens together. The specialisations of cooking, hunting required new skills in our ancestors cooperation, empathy, trust and communication. Where do these capacities for empathy reside in our food ecosystems today? Is there empathy between the consumer and producer? Between the seasonal fruit-picker and the supermarkets? Between the dairy farmer and the cow? Between the farmer and the land? How do we build a true empathy between these different nodes in our system in the next decade? 2. Reconnecting and Listening to the Earth to guide food systems transformation Since Descartes split mind from body, and human from Nature, humans from many parts of the world have learned to see themselves outside of the natural world, and absorbed the credo that our role is to dominate, control and exploit its resources. A technocratic analysis of food production has served us well in maximising yield every year- and yet now threatens to collapse the very ecosystems on which we depend. How do we reshape our cultural connection with the natural world, and retain our sense of embedded- ness within nature, as part of its inherent cycle, rather than its master? Can we foster a sense of respect, wonder and the sacred into our relationship with food? 3. Drawing upon the voice of our elders and supporting the youth: Intergenerational solidarity In the Global North, our enhanced diets and healthcare are lengthening our lifespans and thereby transforming our societies where the elderly are in the majority. The Global South, by contrast, is overwhelmingly young. At the same time, our parents’ generation is consuming planetary resources at a rate which will bequeath our children with a badly damaged biosphere. How can we acknowledge in our food systems solidarity between our ancestors and our descendants? How can we encourage our children to shape new, better habits, while acknowledging their rights to give them a chance of sustainable, nourishing ecosystem in ten years 4. Education Education – whether in the home, in schools or society at large - is the process whereby we seed the practices of our next generation while adapting the current practices of all generations. If we were to change the culture of food in our society, where would we start? What are the best habits to acquire as a child? How can education ascribe a deeper purpose to the food that we eat and prepare? 5. Partnerships and dialogue Food systems are often pyramidal and vertical, with engrained power imbalances and values distortions. The supply chain from farm to fork is a silent one, disconnected and silo’d. How can we move our relationships in food from a one-way broadcast to a conversation? Who is excluded from this conversation? How do we listen to them? And if we were to treat the Earth as a partner rather than a supplicant, what would be the terms of engagement look like? 6. New citizenship and the Life Economy - valuing Nature, health, care John Perkins says that we need to enable A ‘Life Economy’, one in which we prioritise living, organic ecosystems; what we have now is the opposite, a ‘Death’ economy. A life economy is one that pays people to clean up pollution and regenerate destroyed environments. A life economy also develops new technologies that do not ravage the Earth. What would a global citizens charter look like that had a life economy at its core? What role would food play in such a charter? Read less

Solutions for Sustainable Fishing with Small scale women and men farmers: 1. Women empowerment 2. Drying fish 3. Fish mobile vans 4. Increase access to market 5. Mangrove reforestation 6. Integrated pond management 7. Probiotic fish feed 8. Small scale hatcheries 9. Advocacy for sustainable artisanal fishing 10. Participation of SSF in local level decision making 11. Learning exchange program 12. Advocacy and participation in local and national fisheries councils Recommendations to scale up and scale out Solutions : 1. Review various government policies using the VGSSF as tool. 2. Establish st... Read morerong SSF organizations so that they are able to provide service to members with governments and other organizations supporting them with access to finance, pre and post-harvest facilities, capacity building, fishing technologies for marine and fresh water resources. 3. Provide spaces for women and young fishers to act. 4. Invest in post-harvest value chain, access to credit. 5. Check encroachment on coastal areas. 6. Prior access of SSF to commercial fishers. 7. During fish bans, provide support mechanisms. 8. Educate and enforce practices for sustainable fisheries. 9. Empower and organize women and youth fishers. 10. Rehabilitate fishery resources. 11. Conduct policy research on current status of implementation of VGSSF and documentation of good practices. 12. Establish ministry/department of fisheries (India, Philippines) 13. Recognize the role of SSF and IP communities, as well as their organizations and cooperatives, to restore, co-manage, conserve and protect local aquatic and coastal ecosystem. SSF Message to UNFSS  Increase investment in SSF.  Review various policies in fisheries by using VGSSF as tool.  Recognize the role of SSF and IP communities to restore, conserve, protect, and co-manage local aquatic and coastal ecosystem.  Livelihood protection.  Promote gender equity and equality in SSF sector. “According to studies, unless we act now, there may be no fish left in 2048.” (Boris Worm et al, 2006) Read less

Context of Small Scale Fishers  97% of SSF are from developing countries, 85% of whom are from Asia  90% of those in fishing community are SSF, 50% of which are women.  68% of global produce are from Asia.  95% of produce is consumed locally.  Fish is affordable and a major source of protein, vitamins and minerals for the poor. Challenges faced by SSF Fish is one of the most affordable and nutritious food products. Therefore, it is all the more necessary now in the scenario of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet very little is being done to save small scale fisheries (SSF). SSF play a ke... Read morey role in ensuring food and nutrition security, and eradicating poverty. Unfortunately, they are being continuously subjected to various forms of social discrimination, competition from big companies encroaching on coastal fisheries areas, violence against women, lack of access to credit, steeping down the value chain, weak implementation of fisheries policies, and the list goes on. Below are the economic, social, gender based, technological, and environmental challenges SSF face. A. Economic Challenges  Access to resources  Low investment in SSF  Alternative/allied livelihood B. Social Challenges  Social entitlements  Involvement in policy making  Marginalized C. Gender based Challenges  Lack of recognition  Access to market  Not involved in decision making D. Technological Challenges  Need for technical knowledge  Storage  Access to equipment and trainings E. Environmental Challenges  Low fish catch and depletion of species  Climate change  Disaster risk Solutions 1. Women empowerment 2. Drying fish 3. Fish mobile vans 4. Increase access to market 5. Mangrove reforestation 6. Integrated pond management 7. Probiotic fish feed 8. Small scale hatcheries 9. Advocacy for sustainable artisanal fishing 10. Participation of SSF in local level decision making 11. Learning exchange program 12. Advocacy and participation in local and national fisheries councils Recommendations 1. Review various government policies using the VGSSF as tool. 2. Establish strong SSF organizations so that they are able to provide service to members with governments and other organizations supporting them with access to finance, pre and post-harvest facilities, capacity building, fishing technologies for marine and fresh water resources. 3. Provide spaces for women and young fishers to act. 4. Invest in post-harvest value chain, access to credit. 5. Check encroachment on coastal areas. 6. Prior access of SSF to commercial fishers. 7. During fish bans, provide support mechanisms. 8. Educate and enforce practices for sustainable fisheries. 9. Empower and organize women and youth fishers. 10. Rehabilitate fishery resources. 11. Conduct policy research on current status of implementation of VGSSF and documentation of good practices. 12. Establish ministry/department of fisheries (India, Philippines) 13. Recognize the role of SSF and IP communities, as well as their organizations and cooperatives, to restore, co-manage, conserve and protect local aquatic and coastal ecosystem. SSF Message to UNFSS  Increase investment in SSF.  Review various policies in fisheries by using VGSSF as tool.  Recognize the role of SSF and IP communities to restore, conserve, protect, and co-manage local aquatic and coastal ecosystem.  Livelihood protection.  Promote gender equity and equality in SSF sector. “According to studies, unless we act now, there may be no fish left in 2048.” (Boris Worm et al, 2006) Read less

Small scale fishers play a key role in ensuring food and nutrition security, and eradicating poverty. Aquatic food systems strategies can help address the complex issue of the “triple burden of malnutrition” (food insecurity, undernutrition and overweight). Many coastal and inland populations rely on fish as the most accessible source of animal protein. In addition to high-quality protein, fish, especially small fish consumed whole, can be rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A, D and B, and minerals such as calcium, zinc, iodine and iron, while seaweed represents an excellent sou... Read morerce of fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. Fish farming is dominated by Asia, which has produced 89% of the global total of volume in the last 20 years. An estimated 59.51 million people were engaged (on a full-time, part-time or occasional basis) in the primary sector of capture fisheries (39.0 million people) and aquaculture (20.5 million people) in 2018. Women accounted for 14 percent of the total, with shares of 19 percent in aquaculture and 12 percent in capture fisheries. Of all those engaged in primary production, most are in developing countries, and most are small-scale, artisanal fishers and aquaculture workers. The highest numbers of workers are in Asia (85 percent), followed by Africa (9 percent), the Americas (4 percent), and Europe and Oceania (1 percent each). When post-harvest operations data are included, it is estimated that one in two workers in the sector is a woman. Small fishers are facing plethora of challenges in Asia and elsewhere. Owing to their poor economic status and often marginalized social status, their voices are not heard by the policy makers adequately. Small fishers are facing worst crises today. Apart from poverty and discrimination, the added perils are climate change induced extreme weather conditions and depletion of species. Access and control over natural resources has always been a contentious issue for poor fishers, who face hurdles to access sea beaches, to park their boats and dry their nets due to indiscriminate grabbing of coastal land for tourism and other industrial purposes. Also dumping effluent near the coast and in deep sea adversely affect their catches. Though there are rules restricting trawlers from fishing near the shore but violation of that rule is rampant and regulation is very weak. On social entitlement front too fishers are disadvantaged. Existing social schemes, various pensions and insurance schemes fall short to the need. This is simply because these schemes are not developed keeping fishers issues/challenges in mind majority of fisherwomen are in fish vending with no hygienic and secured workplace at markets. They suffer from lack of transportation facilities (often local regular transport refuse to take them due to smell of fish and dipping water etc), inadequate knowledge of market prices. Encroachment of big companies in the coast for industry, tourism and dumping of effluent etc further impoverished poor fishers and they are losing their grounds fast. Increased price of fuel and other essential items have added to their misery. Last but not the least lack of coordination among different government departments (lack of apt policies) has slowed down the pace of serving poor fishers through existing schemes. In the light of the contributions of the fisheries sector in food and nutrition security, and in the light of the issues and challenges faced by small scale women and men fishers who form the majority of the labor force in fisheries, this Independent Dialogue would like to gather together representatives of small scale fishers’ organizations in a discussion on the solutions they have undertaken to overcome these challenges while contributing to sustainability of the oceans, of the lands , and the eco system in general. In this Independent Dialogue, we would like to hear their voices, their perspectives, their solutions and their recommendation so that as small scale women and men fishers, they can play their utmost part in contributing to the global goals of ending hunger and poverty , first amongst their communities, and next, to the whole society. Read less

Areas of Divergence: • Participants disagreed sometimes about whether the consumer should have to pay for more ethically sourced food from the oceans or not! • There was discussion on the ability to live sustainably with the ocean while extracting resources from it, especially for the local people.