Document Abstract
Published:
2008
Towards food sovereignty: reclaiming autonomous food systems
Towards food sovereignty: reclaiming autonomous food systems
Throughout the world, social movements are the driving force behind a new food sovereignty policy framework, which aims to guarantee and protect people’s space, ability and right to define their own models of production, food distribution and consumption patterns. These three chapters, with linked audio and video files, discuss the emergence and potential of this alternative framework, and consider what policy changes required to democratise food systems.
The book begins by describing the ecological basis of food and agriculture, and the social and environmental costs of modern food systems. It highlights that while locally-determined food systems play a crucial role in meeting human needs and sustaining diverse ecologies, they are largely ignored, neglected or actively undermined by governments and corporations. The author critiques both the monopoly control of transnational corporations over different links in the food chain, and the current modernist development paradigm, which promotes a shift away from farming, fishing and land/water-based livelihoods.
The book goes on to describes the historical context that gave birth to the concept of food sovereignty, along with more recent efforts to clarify and understand its deeply political character, which is radically different from the dominant neo-liberal economic system. The main features of this alternative policy framework for food, agriculture and land/water use are presented.
The author lists a range of policy shifts and directions that are being suggested for national governments and other actors who seek to implement food sovereignty within their societies. It is argued that reclaiming such spaces for autonomy and well-being depends on strengthening the positive features of local
food systems and on large-scale citizen action grounded in an alternative theory of social change.
The book begins by describing the ecological basis of food and agriculture, and the social and environmental costs of modern food systems. It highlights that while locally-determined food systems play a crucial role in meeting human needs and sustaining diverse ecologies, they are largely ignored, neglected or actively undermined by governments and corporations. The author critiques both the monopoly control of transnational corporations over different links in the food chain, and the current modernist development paradigm, which promotes a shift away from farming, fishing and land/water-based livelihoods.
The book goes on to describes the historical context that gave birth to the concept of food sovereignty, along with more recent efforts to clarify and understand its deeply political character, which is radically different from the dominant neo-liberal economic system. The main features of this alternative policy framework for food, agriculture and land/water use are presented.
The author lists a range of policy shifts and directions that are being suggested for national governments and other actors who seek to implement food sovereignty within their societies. It is argued that reclaiming such spaces for autonomy and well-being depends on strengthening the positive features of local
food systems and on large-scale citizen action grounded in an alternative theory of social change.
