Concerns have been voiced that the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) has succumbed to ‘corporate capture’, with critics suggesting that marginalized voices have been excluded, while food industry actors have exercised undue influence over the summit process. The UNFSS leadership has responded by saying that “everyone has a seat at the table”; the litmus test will be found in the stance the UNFSS adopts on ultra-processed foods.

In this webinar, a panel of expert speakers will share their perspectives on the UNFSS ‘corporate capture’ debate, proposing essential policy interventions to address the over-consumption of ultra-processed foods and the industrialisation of farming. Speakers include:

• Rob Percival, Soil Association
• Chris van Tulleken, presenter of ‘What are we feeding our kids?’ on BBC One
• Vicky Sibson, First Steps Nutrition Trust
• Courtney Scott, Food, Farming and Countryside Commission
• Jyoti Fernandes, Landworkers Alliance

The webinar will consist of short presentations followed by a curated discussion and an open Q&A. Questions from the audience are welcome and encouraged.

Background

A growing body of evidence shows that ultra-processed foods can be detrimental to human and planetary health. As ultra-processed diets have become more prevalent globally, a wave of chronic disease has washed across the globe, and this health crisis has accelerated in parallel with the climate emergency and the destruction of the natural world.

These crises demand an urgent response, but some food industry actors have sought to stymie such a response. The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food has warned that “corporate concentration of power remains the elephant in the room” at the UNFSS, with critics warning that industry lobbyists have sought to sway the UNFSS away from a robust stance on ultra-processed foods.

In this event we will discuss whether fears of corporate capture at the UNFSS were founded, and the policies needed to fix our increasingly ultra-processed planet.

You can register for this event at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ultra-processed-foods-and-the-corruption-of-the-un-food-systems-summit-tickets-171010004527

If you have any questions about the event, or would like to submit your question before the event, please email: [email protected]