What is the current state of the world’s food systems if viewed from local perspectives? Ahead of the UN Food Systems Stocktaking Summit, SIANI organised a webinar where the ten SIANI expert groups shared insights from their specific contexts. Here is a summary of the event with inspiring examples of successful collaboration, innovation and joint action.
The UN Food Systems Stocktaking Summit, UNFSS+4, will take place in Addis Abeba, on 27-29 July with world leaders discussing how to tackle growing threats to global food security. The conference comes at a time when Sustainable Development Goal 2 about ending hunger seems increasingly remote, yet many local initiatives point to possible routes forward.
To highlight good examples, SIANI organised the webinar Multisectoral efforts for food system transformation on 16 June where SIANI’s ten expert groups shared insights from their work. The event kicked off with an introduction to the UNFSS +4 by Mia Madsen, Policy Officer at the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub. She especially emphasised the importance of local input:
“We’ve had a very consultative process in collecting feedback from civil society and various food system stakeholders.”
Madsen hoped that the stocktake will draw attention to the need for a food systems transformation, but also that the meeting will result in coalitions for action. Another aim is to connect donors and private sector partners with specific projects to fast-track progress.
Jonna Wiklund, who manages the expert groups at the SIANI secretariat, moderated three rounds of presentations and panel discussions where members from different expert groups exchanged experiences. The first was entitled Towards nature-positive production for people and planet with input from expert groups interested in pollination services, agroforestry and soil health. The second panel focused on Equitable Livelihoods and Local Stewardship, featuring presentations on topics like wild foods, lands rights and small-scale fisheries. Finally, the panel Innovations for health and resilience explored aspects related to pest management and agrobiological products as well as alternative fodder and nutrient circulation.
Below are brief messages from all the groups – you can also watch the full seminar on SIANI’s Youtube channel.
Support pollination services
Kedar Devkota from the expert group Pollination in Asia described pollination as “a free gift of nature” but one that is increasingly threatened by climate change, pesticides and biodiversity loss. The pollination expert group is active in India, Laos, Nepal and Sri Lanka where they for example support living labs on beekeeping. An early conclusion is that farmers need a better understanding of how pollination actually works and how this critical ecosystem service can be protected.
Use agroforestry to tackle erosion
Monica Nderitu represented the group Dryland Agroforestry in East Africa and explained that agroforestry has turned out to be a highly useful approach also for drylands, preventing biodiversity loss and soil erosion. As climate change is aggravating hunger, inequality and poverty, agroforestry offers a chance to reverse negative trends and improve gender equality.
Rediscover traditional soil management
Simone De Boer shared how the expert group Reviving the Roots works with farmers in Kyrgyzstan who are rediscovering the country’s traditional soil management practices. A shift to farming anchored in Kyrgyzstan’s rich history of holistic soil management can help the country address its severe problems with land degradation. “We focus on more customary traditional knowledge, looking at folkloric sources to understand how people view land and soil historically,” De Boer said.
Defend environmental defenders and protect land rights
Caroline Delgado from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) described how the expert group Land Rights in Latin America has been raising awareness of the links between food insecurity, inequality, violence and biodiversity loss. The group, with members in ten countries, hopes that Latin American countries will start working together to reduce violence against environmental defenders, strengthen land rights and develop a more sustainable economic system.
Restore knowledge about wild foods
Madhu Ramnath, from the Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange Programme India, talked about the group Wild Foods in Asia and how they help protect traditional knowledge about wild foods. This kind of understanding is often passed on between generations, strengthening the sense of community and culture as well as food security, but it is now showing signs of decline. The expert group is making inventories and supports knowledge exchanges between communities.
Listen to small-scale fisheries
Milena Arias Schreiber spoke on behalf of the Small-scale Fisheries in Latin America group and stressed that the role of fishing for food security must not be forgotten. Furthermore, she emphasised that half the fish we eat comes from small-scale fisheries but that representatives from this sector are rarely heard in the public debate. The group tries to change this to showcase the value of sustainable traditional fishing.
Accelerate the use and production of agrobiologicals
Ivar Virgin from the group Agrobiologicals in East Africa described the benefits of biobased agricultural inputs to manage crop disease and increase yields. The expert group is active in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania where they have mapped and connected key actors in the East African agrobiologics sector and are now establishing an East African dialogue platform. As a result, more farmers and decision-makers are starting to see how agrobiologicals can help them increase farm productivity without harmful chemicals.
Invest in nutrient circulation
Abdoulaye Pedehombga from AFRICSanté represented the expert group One Health in Burkina Faso which is following up innovative projects where nutrients from human and animal waste is being recirculated and used to improve soils and increase yields. The group will shortly present its analyses of efforts to incorporate this aspect into initiatives to improve villagers’ access to clean water and safe sanitation.
Help small-scale farmers get access to safe pest management
The SIANI expert group Tropical Fruits Liaison, though not presenting in the webinar, supports small-scale fruit farmers so that they can get better access to safe and sustainable pest control.
Use insects as animal fodder
Johanna Rakotondrasoa from the Madagascar Biodiversity Center described the innovative approach applied by the expert group Insect-based proteins. Farmers in Madagascar have begun farming black-soldier flies, using food waste, which is then used as animal fodder. The practice helps address Madagascar’s problems with food insecurity and biodiversity loss. Some farmers also sell larvae to get extra income.
Build on what you have
Summarizing the day, Cecilia Nordin Van Gansberghe, Chair of SIANI Steering Committee described the value of all these experiences and this type of exchange:
“By working together and putting efforts into education, we can achieve a lot. Obviously, we also have to adapt to the conditions that we have even when they are not ideal.”