2009

The People's Food Sovereignty Forum held alongside the FAO Council World Summit on food security, addressed the hunger crisis affecting over one billion people and nearly one sixth of the world's population.

Participants talked about the current state of crisis in the agro-food system worldwide and the need refocus attention on the billion and a half men and women who produce the food we all eat.

The summit discussed the following key challenges:

• The eradication of hunger from the earth
• The implementation of a more coherent and effective system of governance of food security at both national and international levels
• Ensuring that farmers in both developed and developing countries can earn a sufficient income
• The mobilisation of substantial additional public and private sector investments in agriculture and rural infrastructure and ensuring farmers’ access to modern technologies to boost food production and productivity
• Reaching agreement on the most effective mechanisms to tackle food crises
• Ensuring that countries are prepared to adapt to climate change and mitigate negative effects

The People's Food Sovereignty Forum took place on November 13th - 17th in Rome, and about 600 people attended.

further information

To read the latest press release - including final declarations - and to find out more go to the People's Food Sovereignty website.
Listen to coverage of the forum on Real World Radio

Here is a short film showing the action. Spanish starts after 42 seconds!

The International Planning Committee on Food Sovereignty (IPC) met recently to decide the future of the FAO Seed Treaty (ITPGRFA), an agreement seeking to address the issues of the global agricultural system by protecting seed diversity and implementing peasants' rights.  The debate was an important milestone ahead of the scheduled food crisis summit in Rome in November and the UN climate summit in Copenhagen in December. 

25 countries, representing peasant, pastoralist, and indigenous organizations took part in the treaty negotiations.  After two days, the representatives demanded the following:

• In light of the food emergency there must be a suspension of all intellectual property rights and other regulations that prevent farmers from saving and exchanging non-GMO seed.

• There must be a major financial commitment to save seed in the field, for the conservation of genetic diversity in the field, and to prevent and monitor biopiracy.
  

• There must be an end to the monopoly practices of multinational seed companies who are controlling seeds.

• Governments must involve farmers in decision making every step of the way, and  must implement the treaty’s decision on Farmers’ Rights.

Read the full statement released by Friends of the Earth International, the International Coordination Committee, La Via Campesina and many others here.

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