Independent Dialogue
Geographical focus:
No borders
Main findings
This dialogue was approached in a spirit of partnership and inclusiveness, resulting in a united voice of farmers and consumers. Considerable discussion took place on how to reshape the food chain and make it more sustainable. In doing so, however, attention was paid to the needs of both parties, starting with their expectations and concerns. The key points that emerged relate to the need to redefine the food system and redesign the public policies that support it. While farmers and consumers are the main players and potential drivers of change, they are not the only ones upon whom change can
... Read moredepend. There is a very complex food system that is always evolving. The danger in this area is that food has so many different impacts at national level that often the policies and actions that are taken end up being very diluted, delaying the progress that is needed. A core area, which sounds very obvious, concerns the promotion of cross-cutting national food policies. Very few countries have actually adopted policies with common priorities at national level covering not only health, environment and agriculture, but also trade policy, economic growth, education, which -although seemingly unrelated- affect the food system. Aligned governmental guidelines are urgently required across countries, regarding effective parental nutrition labelling, regulation of misleading claims or marketing practices, where there is certainly a role for responsible businesses, but also the need for a governmental framework to support these efforts. We're dealing with global supply chains and global companies across many different jurisdictions. It's really crucial, therefore, to harmonize national laws. Another relevant issue concerns prices and access to affordable food, where the dilemma revolved around being able to produce sustainably at a price that is not prohibitive for consumers. In this respect, the role of technology and digital solutions is crucial. Thanks to blockchain and QR codes, farmers can ensure more transparent and traceable production and share data with consumers who will be able to make more informed choices, on price as well. Read less
Action Track(s): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Keywords: Data & Evidence, Environment and Climate, Governance, Human rights, Innovation, Policy, Trade-offs, Women & Youth Empowerment