food

Multimedia Publication: Towards food sovereignty: Reclaiming autonomous food systems

Towards Food Sovereignty is an online book with linked video and audio files. The first 6 chapters, available here, begin to describe the ecological basis of food and agriculture, the social and environmental costs of modern food systems, and the policy reversals needed to democratize food systems. The video and audio clips show farmers, indigenous peoples and consumers all working to promote food sovereignty, it highlights the importance of locally controlled food systems to sustain both people and nature.
 

Peasant Seeds: the foundation of food sovereignty in Africa

A multimedia publication released in Bamako today, 11th December 2008, captures the deep concern among West African farmers about the privatisation of seeds and knowledge.

Sustaining local food systems, agricultural biodiversity and livelihoods

Update: Read the Open Letter of the Peoples of Cusco (PDF) to the FAO Director General, Feb. 10.

On 26 February 2010, Peruvian indigenous organizations, local government bodies and civil society organizations in Cusco, Peru, held a meeting to formulate a strategic response to a FAO ABCD10 starting on 1 March that will push for greater use of genetically modified organisms. A demonstration through the ancient Inca streets followed up this multi-stakeholder gathering. The meeting produced a Declaration which underlines that the FAO agenda does not represent the best approach for tackling agricultural challenges, including those brought by climate change.

World Forestry Congress

The World Forestry Congress, held every six years, is the largest and most significant gathering of the world's forestry sector. Here are some articles on the most important issues for 2009.

Business models for sustainable development

Business models for sustainable development aim to deliver economic, social and environmental benefits – the three pillars of sustainable development – through core business activities.

IIED's work on business models for sustainable development cuts across several areas of  research including  forestry, food and agriculture, energy and ICTs. Our research to date has identified a number of factors that contribute to the success of business models for sustainable development.

 

Small Producer Agency in the Globalised Market

This programme sets out to map, elicit and integrate knowledge on the dilemmas confronting small-scale producers in global, regional and national markets.

The programme recently got underway with the establishment of a global peer-to-peer learning network, led from Bolivia by IIED international fellow Diego Muñoz.  The first of three sets of regional consultations took place in Peru and Nicaragua in August 2009. IIED, together with partners Hivos (Netherlands) and Mainumby (La Paz) organised two round table discussions, in Lima and Managua, with potential partners from Central and South America. Further regional consultations will take place in Asia and Africa later in the year.

Strengthening local voices in the governance of food systems, land use and the environment

The aim of this action research is to identify and support processes that can help democratise the governance of food systems, land use and the environment. It seeks to find more equitable ways of including citizens in policy making and in the design of technologies and institutions that shape food systems and the environment.

Strengthening local voices policy debates on climate change, agro-fuels and the food-energy nexus

National and global debates on climate change strategies around agrofuels and agricultural development have had little input from civil society, particularly from groups traditionally excluded from policy processes such as women and indigenous people.

Citizens reframing conservation policies and practice for food and livelihood security, environmental sustainability and justice

Two complementary activities are being carried out to allow citizens’ to assess, re-imagine and influence conservation policies and practice:

i) Creating safe spaces for citizens who have experienced censorship and marginalisation after criticising mainstream conservation practice

Transforming agri-food research for citizen participation and the public good

Throughout the world, public funded research shapes the choices that are available to farmers, food workers, consumers, and the environments in which they live and work. There is an increasing need to explore ways of democratising the governance of science and technology, ensuring that it continues to serve the public good rather than narrow economic interests.

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