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Main findings
1. Modes of Action: Need for Community and Policy level initiatives The Dialogue highlighted the need for both community-level and policy-level action. Participants agreed that food systems cannot be transformed through homogenous modes of action, but rather through synergies between community-level and policy-level initiatives. In terms of community-level action, participants agreed on the need for advocating with governments and big retailers to prioritize local foods, campaigning to eliminate the use of plastics, and prioritizing education surrounding sustainable and nutritious foods at the
... Подробнее early childhood level. In terms of policy-level action, participants discussed the need to shift government policy towards better natural resource management and more nutritious / sustainable systems of production, reduce energy costs for small farmers, invest in research that improves the economics of sustainable / nutritious food, and support international agreements to measure gender data in farming. 2. Working with Indigenous communities and Paired Dialogues The need to establish paired dialogues or partnerships between Indigenous knowledge holders and scientists was reiterated in the Dialogue. Indigenous knowledge, values and practices have traditionally been disregarded and excluded from the discourse on food systems despite the fact that they have created food systems that are biodiverse, nutritious, climate resilient, equitable and rooted in sustainable livelihood practices. Indigenous food systems have not only ensured the food sovereignty, health and wellbeing of Indigenous communities over generations, but have contributed to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development for the benefit of all humankind. A paired dialogue between Indigenous knowledge holders and scientists could therefore generate and improve knowledge surrounding food systems, climate change, the management of crops and seeds and other topics alike. Other solutions for working with indigenous communities included: * Conducting research with indigenous peoples and gathering more evidence on indigenous knowledge systems * Creating a trust fund, managed by indigenous communities, to support work * Supporting indigenous land tenure and community systems of protection and management * Strengthening the landscape approach with a comprehensive and holistic vision that aims to recover and strengthen the production of traditional medicines, seeds, crops, livestock, sources of wild and indigenous foods with high nutritional potential (local superfoods) * Facilitating the commercialization of indigenous products by supporting community-based businesses and economic initiatives of Indigenous peoples 3. Gender Equality through improved policy and data Since women face countless barriers including access to resources, lack of land rights, social norms and institutional barriers, the role (and importance) of women within food systems must be prioritized. Women are typically visible in production, processing and trading sectors, however their visibility diminishes as we move up the value chain. This is problematic as there is a notable connection between gender equality, food systems, food security and nutrition. As our speaker Dr. Jemimah Njuki noted, “the countries with the highest gender inequalities also tend to be the hungriest”. In order to overcome extreme gender inequality within food systems, participants suggested the need for gender-sensitive data collection, gender empowerment programs at the state level and legislative action to involve women in policymaking. ICT can also be used to provide agricultural advisories and training to women in farming communities 4. Youth Involvement for sustainability Discussions revealed the importance of exploring the involvement of youth in food systems in order to strengthen their future structures. Youth have the ability to take ownership of the local food systems in their community. If given the opportunity to positively and meaningfully engage in their local food systems then they can transform these systems and make these systems more sustainable. In countries such as Haiti, succession of food producers is not assured to sustain / safeguard future food systems because younger generations / populations are not interested in a career in producing food. Strategies to effectively engage younger generations in creating a sustainable food system include: * A combination of farm and school structures to build understanding amongst younger generations of their local food systems. * Programs that facilitate conversations between older and younger generations regarding existing food systems. An existing generational difference in communication style can hinder the education of youth in food production. * Younger generations should be involved in village banking so they can save money / begin farming practices. 5. Building Networks of small-holder farmers Smallholder farmers who form the bulk of the global food systems face numerous barriers from access to technology to high production costs, lack of storage facilities and unequal access to markets. Examples from India ( Group Federation of Small Farmers Initiative in Tamil Nadu by the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation)and other parts of the world show the importance of creating federations of small farmers who can not only serve as a pressure group to highlight their interests but also leverage funds from banks and governments and undertake collective action for ensuring better access to technology and local infrastructure. Скрыть
Направления деятельности: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Ключевые слова: Data & Evidence, Environment and Climate, Human rights, Innovation, Policy, Women & Youth Empowerment