Inspiring examples

Seeing food sovereignty mentioned in more and more spaces, so thought it might be useful to share one of the best discussions of what the concept entails here - written by Raj Patel in 2009, drawing on the work done by grassroots peasant organisation La Via Campesina over a number of years.

The condensed version is that while 'food security' (as defined by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation) focuses on supply, 'food sovereignty' goes further, involving people's agency and voice. More specifically, Patel (2009) argues that if food sovereignty is about people’s right to define their own food and agricultural systems, then its realisation requires a transformation of the forces which currently limit that right (beyond food availability alone); in short, “a society in which the equality-distorting effects of sexism, patriarchy, racism, and class power have been eradicated” (p. 670).

Full text attached beneath - love to hear whether this definition of food sovereignty resonates, and how you think that might look here in Aotearoa NZ...

Also worth sharing here, and useful if you've less time or interest in reading academic-y articles, is this short video summarising differences between food security and sovereignty from a European perspective :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oz0dutIXmfc&ab_channel=FoEM

My first share in here is going to be less specifically about food sovereignty....but a piece I keep returning to by Martin Shaw...which is really helping me navigate and hold some sense of groundedness in these times of transition (to ?)... listening to Martins words is a delight :) https://emergencemagazine.org/essay/navigating-the-mysteries/

I have a few other podcasts that gently enquire into the junction of food & connection...time & connection...I'll share soon :)

Hard to talk about sharing in the food space without talking about the commons, and who better to listen to on the subject than the beautiful mind of Gustavo Esteva, who we sadly lost earlier this year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLZGhyNWD70&t=41s

Jason Bradford, a biologist and farmer, offers a deeply researched report on the future of food that reveals key blind spots in conventional wisdom on energy, technology, and demographics. The Future Is Rural presents Bradford’s analysis from his career in ecology and agriculture, as well as a synthesis of the historical and scientific underpinnings of the astonishing changes that will transform the food system and society as a whole.

And Jason for podcast listeners: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjLw-_Rhb_U and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5QJ5tgq4Fs

Yes...I enjoyed Jason's conversation with Nate Hagens on The Great Simplification. I must admit I haven't listened to the Planet : Critical podcast at all yet.

Another inspiring example - The Deep Medicine Circle

"The Deep Medicine Circle (DMC) is a WOC-led, collaborative 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization dedicated to repairing critical relationships that have been fractured through colonialism. Starting from a place of correcting relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, we cultivate a culture of care to support the health and healing of people, and communities of plants and animals which are critical for our survival and thriving.

We are a collective of farmers, elders, physicians, healers, herbalists, ecological designers, scholars, political ecologists, educators, youth, storytellers and artists. We adhere to earth-based, Indigenous ecofeminist principles of organizing, with participatory governance structures and circles of decision-making."

https://www.deepmedicinecircle.org/

Not sure if anyone has seen this...announced today..!!

The Earth is ow Patagonia's only shareholder...

https://www.patagonia.com/ownership/