Let's Reclaim Our Food Sovereignty and Reject the Industrial Food System!

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Food Systems Analysis
• Sociology

Background:

• African food systems are characterized by diverse production, crops, seeds, markets, cultures, biodiversity, and ecologies.
• Systematic erosion of African food systems has been a persistent issue, prompting interventions like the UN Food Systems Summit.
• African civil society organizations (CSOs) actively engaged in countermobilization efforts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document the mobilization of African civil society organizations in response to the UN Food Systems Summit.
• To articulate an alternative vision for African food systems based on participatory dialogues and people's choices.
• To highlight key principles for a future food system, including resource control, territorial solutions, human rights, family farming, and peasant agroecology.

Main Methods:

• Participatory dialogues were a key method for CSOs to articulate their vision.
• Regional and continental articulations of future food systems were developed.
• Mobilization strategies of civil society were employed.

Main Results:

• African civil society organizations successfully mobilized to push back against the UN Food Systems Summit's approach.
• Participatory dialogues created space for continent-wide discussions on food system futures.
• A clear articulation of a future African food system emerged, emphasizing specific principles.

Conclusions:

• The countermobilization of African CSOs offers a framework for a more equitable and sustainable food future.
• Peasant agroecology, family farming, and community control over resources are central to this alternative vision.
• The human rights of all and territorially-embedded solutions are foundational for resilient African food systems.