The Global-Hub on Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems gains momentum welcoming new members: the Universities of Melbourne, Harvard and Queensland, as well as EMRIP and SADI

The Global-Hub on Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems is gaining momentum as it welcomes new members and deepens its pool of expertise to feed into current global discussions on food security, nutrition, and the sustainable transformation of food systems: elements at the centre of the work of the World Committee on Food Security (CFS).

The latest institution to join this innovative think tank based on a unique mix of Indigenous Peoples’ and academic knowledge was the University of Melbourne. Its membership incorporates to the Global-Hub important views and expertise on the issues that affect Indigenous Peoples’ food and knowledge systems in the Pacific region, from the adverse effects of climate change to the impacts of ultra-processed foods on Indigenous Peoples’ health.

The contributions of the University of Melbourne come timely, since the Global-Hub recently established a Pacific research network to investigate further these issues and provide answers to their challenges. The interest on the issues affecting the region’s food systems is also reflected in a recent visit of FAO Director General Qu Dongyu to Australia. On that occasion, FAO DG also visited the University of Melbourne and met with its researchers who are part of the Global-Hub. The FAO delegation also met with Indigenous Peoples’ representatives, highlighting the importance of building strong partnerships with them and to recognise their knowledge.

Other institutions joined the Global-Hub after its October 2024 meeting at FAO headquarters, which put the think tank in the spotlight during a week full of discussions and events. The Global-Hub warmly welcomed amongst its members the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP). Based in Geneva, EMRIP provides the Human Rights Council with expertise and advice on the rights of Indigenous Peoples and conducts studies to advance the promotion and protection of Indigenous Peoples’ rights. Its global expertise on the rights of Indigenous Peoples is an invaluable asset for the Global-Hub, given the strong connection between the fulfilment of these rights and the preservation and strengthening of Indigenous Peoples’ food and knowledge systems.

In recent months, the Global-Hub kept growing in numbers. Nowadays it gathers 35 institutions and 2 research networks which spread across all 7 socio-cultural regions of the world.

Amongst the members that recently joined the Global-Hub, adding to the breadth and depth of the think tank, there are the Harvard University, the University of Queensland and the Sustainable Aquatic Development Institute (SADI). Through their researchers, these institutions are enriching the Global-Hub with expertise on the impacts of climate and environmental changes on Indigenous Peoples’ health and food systems, on Indigenous Peoples foods and nutrition, and on biodiversity, food systems analysis and Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge systems.

The enlargement of the pool of expertise of the Global-Hub comes very timely. The new members’ contributions are fundamental for the current work of the Global-Hub, which during its October 2024 meeting established 5 additional drafting committees to the 4 existing ones. These drafting committees are working on the following themes:

New drafting committees

1. Global study on Indigenous Peoples' food security
2. Ocean and freshwater-based food systems
3. Indigenous Peoples' Food composition 
4. Indigenous hunter-gatherers’ food systems
5. Guidelines on how to co-create knowledge between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples

Existing drafting committees

6. Indigenous Peoples and indicators of poverty
7. Collective paper on Indigenous Peoples’ mobility, biodiversity and collective rights
8. Study on the impacts of ultra-processed food products on Indigenous Peoples' health
9. Indigenous Peoples’ biocentric and ecosystem restoration

The ongoing work of the Global-Hub feeds into the ongoing processes of the CFS. The CFS is establishing a High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) to draft a report on “Preserving, strengthening and promoting Indigenous Peoples’ food and knowledge systems and traditional practices for sustainable food systems” to be presented at its 54th plenary session in October 2026. The Global-Hub’s work on Indigenous Peoples’ food and knowledge systems could serve as a beacon guiding the work of the HLPE in the drafting of the report.

The Global-Hub on Indigenous Peoples’ food systems is gaining momentum. The past few months have highlighted the relevance of its work and growing interest of institutions to be part of this innovative think tank. It is certain that 2025 will further consolidate the Global-Hub's vital role: leading the sustainable transformation of our food systems by blending Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge and state-of-the-art academic research.