Newsletter
Don't miss a thing!
We regularly provide you with the most important news, articles, topics, projects and ideas for One World – No Hunger.
Newsletter
Don't miss a thing!
We regularly provide you with the most important news, articles, topics, projects and ideas for One World – No Hunger.
Please also refer to our data protection declaration.
Journalist Jan Rübel spoke with Joao Campari ahead of the UNFSS Pre-Summit. The Chair of Action Track 3 highlights key challenges in transforming existing food systems towards sustainable production and shares his expectations for the Summit.
Mr. Campari, what is your overall assessment of the UNFSS process so far, leading up to the Pre-Summit?
So far the Summit has been successful in engaging stakeholders from all across food systems. This Summit is a People´s Summit and through an open process, there have been more than 2,000 solutions submitted to the five Action Tracks that, together, work to improve human health, increase awareness of healthier and more sustainable diets, boost nature-positive production, improve livelihoods and create more resilience to vulnerabilities and shocks. These solutions were harvested globally via Public Forums, online surveys, Food Systems Summit Dialogues and direct engagement of stakeholders. It has been very exciting to see some of the innovative thinking – and to see so many people, from different parts of the world involved in food systems in different ways, share opinions on how we can accelerate and scale systemic transformation.
You are the chair of Action Track 3, which aims to boost nature-positive production systems operating within planetary boundaries. What are the main challenges in achieving this goal?
The main issues are the structural lock-ins that keep the current unsustainable food production system in place. These lock-ins include investments and policies that incentivise or reward unsustainable practices; expectation of low food prices; concentration of power with a small group of players; and unequal access to technology. We have to address these structural issues if we are to achieve food systems transformation. To feed a growing population, decision makers tend to focus on how to increase productivity to end hunger, but generally do not take into account the full range of costs associated with production, such as the cost of deforestation. There is a way to produce food with nature (not against it!) and this is what we call nature-positive production. It´s a way of producing food that works for people and for nature.
One of the ideas submitted to Action Track 3 is to develop a “Codex Planetarius” to determine a set of minimum environmental standards to govern global food trade. What is the Codex Planetarius, what problems does it address and how realistic is the implementation of such an idea?
The Codex Planetarius proposes a minimum set of environmental standards that would be applied to global food trade. It is the environmental equivalent to the Codex Alimentarius which regulates food safety and hygiene to protect people. The issue is that, today, global environmental trade standards or regulations for food that enters the global market are mostly missing. Given the huge flows of food across borders, a Codex Plaentarius would help accelerate the transition to nature-positive production. Of course, it is not easy to implement – it takes concerted and coordinated effort from many different stakeholders and policymakers. But there is excitement around the idea.
Action Track 3 places a clear focus on the agroecological transformation of existing production systems. What role do smallholder organisations and indigenous people play in the work of AT3?
The leadership group of AT3 is diverse, including farmers, indigenous representatives and youth leaders. This is representative of the fact that everyone has an important role to play in food systems transformation and boosting nature-positive production at scale. Smallholder organisations and indigenous people are some of the best stewards of nature, but the responsibility doesn’t lie solely with them to change production. Collectively, we must make shifts which enable the adoption of nature-positive production. This requires promoting research, technology and innovation to prioritize agroecological production approaches and regenerative agriculture, alongside social, institutional and financial innovations.
UNFSS provides a key opportunity to elevate the profile of agroecology and other regenerative approaches, advance processes and move from commitments to action,
which we at WWF strongly support, as we strive for food systems that benefit people and nature. Working with the Summit, we are ensuring the voices of smallholders, indigenous peoples and local communities, women and youth are all heard.
Based on the Action Areas and Solutions developed in recent months, do you expect for coalitions to be formed to take these ideas forward?
Absolutely. This is an expectation of the Summit. In fact, we need large coalitions to co-create ambitious solutions and we are seeing high levels of engagement from key stakeholders. For instance, there are now more than 21 member states, including from 8 African countries, that are engaged in discussions on agroecology and regenerative agriculture to achieve a paradigm shift away from maximising productivity of intensive non-diverse food systems towards healthy, resilient, equitable and sustainable food systems. Our Aquatic and Blue Foods cluster is considering how we can fully realise the potential for sustainable aquatic foods, but also how they can contribute to ending malnutrition and build healthy, resilient food systems and provide safe, dignified jobs. The cluster on repurposing public support to food and agriculture is looking at how subsidies and financial incentives can be adapted to ensure that producers who are implementing nature-positive production practices are rewarded. All of the coalitions that are emerging from AT3 will help address the triple challenge of achieving food security, limiting climate change and halting and reversing biodiversity loss.
What are your expectations for the Pre-Summit and what will happen afterwards?
WWF wishes the Summit to set us on a path to reducing the impact of food systems on biodiversity and climate.
The Pre-Summit is an important moment in accelerating progress on this path. It needs to strengthen the coalitions of action which are emerging, and lay foundations for meaningful actions to be implemented. It is also a key moment in continuing to integrate the food, climate, nature and land agendas, so that food systems transformation is a priority topic in upcoming climate and biodiversity agreements that will shape policy for the next decade.
Read more “Corona exposes the weaknesses of our nutritional systems"
Read more 5 questions to F. Patterson: Why is there more hunger?
Read more Climate Adaptation Summit 2021: ‘We can do better’
Read more Small-scale farmers’ responses to COVID-19 related restrictions
Read more Video diaries in the days of Corona: Voices from the ground
Read more Resilient small-scale agriculture: A key in global crises
Read more A global signpost: What way is the market, please?
Read more The state of food security in Cape Town and St. Helena Bay
Read more The hype about urban gardening: farmers or hobby gardeners?
Read more How the self-help approach empowers smallholder women
Read more Global responsibility: Tackling hunger is the only way forward
Read more Gender equality: Essential for food and nutrition security
Read more Success story allotment garden: Food supply and women's empowerment
Read more Developing countries hit doubly hard by coronavirus
Read more Statement from GAFSP Co-Chairs: GAFSP and COVID-19 Pandemic
Read more This is how developing countries can adapt better to droughts
Read more What do you expect from this Pre Summit, Mr. Haddad?
Read more Mr. Marí, what happened at the alternative summit?
Read more What is wrong with our nutrition in Germany, Mr. Plagge ?
Read more How Can We Feed The World in Times of Climate Change?
Read more Food System Transformation Starts and Ends with Diversity
Read more Sustainable Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture in Rural Areas
Read more Land Rights for Secure Livelihoods: My Land is My Life
Read more City, Country, Sea: 6 Innovations in the Fight Against Climate Change
Read more Engaging the Community to Solve the Bushmeat Crisis
Read more German G7 Presidency – fighting hunger with all our might
Read more ‘Invite yourself’ – Farmers organisations as key stakeholders of food systems
Read more The lessons learned from the last food crisis - A solution?
Read more ‘Preserving and restoring fertile soils is a global responsibility.’
Read more What does it take to truly shift the paradigm on food systems?
Read more Strengthening food markets across the rural-urban continuum
Read more A dashboard as a key tool for global food security
Read more Sustainable, feminist and socially just: The new Africa strategy of the BMZ
Read more The importance of water for sustainable rural development
Read more How the War against Ukraine Destabilizes Global Grain Markets
Read more The Black Sea Breadbasket in Crisis: Facts and Figures
Read more Fair Trade and Climate Justice: Everything is Conntected
Read more The Rice Sector in West Africa: A Political Challenge
Read more 5 Questions for Jann Lay: What is Corona doing to the economy?
Read more “More of the same is not enough - we need to rethink”
Read more The goals of transformation should leave no one behind
Read more Together towards Sustainable Development: Private Sector Cooperation
Read more "Human capital will play a pivotal role in the transformation of African economies"
Read more How can the private sector prevent food loss and waste?
Read more From lost products to safe food - Innovations from Zambia
Read more The Future of Development Politics: Voices from the Parliamentary Groups
Read more Cooperation and Effective Incentives for Sustainable Land Use
Read more World Soil Conference ends with resolutions on drought management and land restoration
Read more How much private investment is the agricultural sector able to bear?
Read more Mr. Samimi, what is environmental change doing to Africa?
Read more One Health – What we are learning from the Corona crisis
Read more Planetary Health: Recommendations for a Post-Pandemic World
Read more Biodiversity and agriculture – rivalry or a new friendship?
Read more Nine Harvests Left until 2030: How Will the BMZ Organise Itself in the Future?
Read more A Climate of Hunger: How the Climate Crisis Fuels the Hunger
Read more New legal initiatives towards deforestation-free supply chains as a game changer
Read more Ms Rudloff, what are the benefits of a supply chain law?
Read more Freed from trade? Towards a fairer EU Trade Agenda
Read more ‘None of the Three Traffic Light Coalition Parties is Close to the Paris Agreement’
We use cookies on our website. Some of them are essential, while others help to improve your user experience. Your consent is voluntary and can be revoked at any time on the "Privacy" page.
Protects against cross-site request forgery attacks
Saves the current PHP session.
Content from third-party providers, such as YouTube, which collect data about usage. Third-party content embedded on this website will only be displayed to you if you expressly agree to this here.
We use Matomo analytics software, which collects anonymous data about website usage and functionality to improve our website and user experience.