Dear members of the FSN Forum,
It has been a suspenseful first week for the consultation “Towards a common understanding of Sustainable Food Systems”. Our special thanks go to the first movers who submitted their feedback in this early stage of the consultation period, as well as to the IT specialists that were able to resolve the technical problems that caused a temporary interruption of the FSN Forum website. The contributions so far highlighted specific challenges (e.g. climate change; pests and diseases; decrease of arable land and soil fertility; lack of investment) as well as additional concepts and approaches (e.g. agroforestry; cooperative agriculture; food safety; insect protein) in relation to sustainable food systems. In addition, insightful examples of food systems challenges at national and local level were provided, including from the Indian context.
Some questions were also raised with regard to the draft v1.0, including about its main objective and the focus on sustainability (rather than food security). The One Planet Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) Programme’s point of view is clear: while the ultimate goal is food security, it will not be achieved while the economic, social and environmental bases for food production and consumption are being compromised. In other words, the shift towards sustainable food systems is a precondition for global food security. The SFS Programme is developing this document with the objective to strengthen a common understanding of the key approaches and concepts that are central to this shift. This will allow food system actors to speak the same language when deliberating on sustainable solutions to food insecurity and malnutrition – solutions that take into account all stages from food production to consumption, as well as their interlinkages with food systems drivers and impacts.
We are pleased that the feedback received in general has been supportive of the concept of sustainable food systems. We welcome further inputs and reactions, and particularly encourage contributors to refer as much as possible to the three guiding questions in the topic note.
Best regards and thank you very much,
Alwin Kopse
Deputy Assistant Director-General
Head International and Food Security Unit
Federal Office for Food and Agriculture FOAG, Switzerland
Mr. Alwin Kopse