Summary
What is Food Sovereignty?
“Food sovereignty is the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems. It puts those who produce, distribute and consume food at the heart of food systems and policies rather than the demands of markets and corporations. It defends the interests and inclusion of the next generation. It offers a strategy to resist and dismantle the current corporate trade and food regime, and directions for food, farming, pastoral and fisheries systems determined by local producers.
Food sovereignty prioritises local and national economies and markets and empowers peasant and family farmer-driven agriculture, artisan fishing, pastoralist-led grazing, and food production, distribution and consumption based on environmental, social and economic sustainability. Food sovereignty promotes transparent trade that guarantees just income to all peoples and the rights of consumers to control their food and nutrition. It ensures that the rights to use and manage our lands, territories, waters, seeds, livestock and biodiversity are in the hands of those of us who produce food. Food sovereignty implies new social relations free of oppression and inequality between men and women, peoples, racial groups, social classes and generations.” (Nyeleni Declaration signed up by 800 international peasant organisations, March 2007)
Why is Food Sovereignty relevant to Latin America and Ireland?
Since 2006 there has been a sharp increase in the price of staple food making it unaffordable for millions. It is estimated that because of this 15 million people will join the 70 million already living in extreme poverty. As a result, there has been widespread unrest erupting in riots over hunger, such as Mexico (January 2007) and Haiti (April 2008).
Ireland is increasingly dependant on imported food, to the point that in the case of an oil shock, the country would “probably not even have food supply for a week”. (Irish Independent 26-07-08). This dependency makes Ireland vulnerable, while at the same time reinforces an unfair and unsustainable trade system.
What are the causes behind the food crisis?
There are many issues behind it, such as: raise in the oil prices, food speculation, economies focusing on cash crops in detriment of edibles, stagnation in food production, biofuels, emerging markets' higher demand, unfair trade practices, etc. Many of these causes are linked to market liberalisation and Neoliberalism which has lead to crises in other aspects of society too.
