Food sovereignty: turning the global food system upside down

An alternative view to mainstream thinking on food security: food sovereignity

This short briefing paper provides an overview of the food sovereignty conceptual framework.

Food sovereignty is an alternative to the current mainstream thinking on food production. The concept behind food sovereignty contrasts the neo-liberal approach that believes that international trade will solve the world’s food problem. Instead, it focuses on local autonomy, local markets and community action.

At the heart of food sovereignty is local autonomy, and it incorporates wide ranging issues such as land reform, territorial control, local markets, biodiversity, autonomy, cooperation, debt and health, which are of central importance to be able to produce food locally.

Food sovereignty also allows different movements that traditionally have been played out against each other, to come together and develop a common understanding of common aims and actions.

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Food sovereignty: turning the global food system upside down