IPES-Food
approach
The International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food) is an international non-profit thinktank headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.
Bringing together 25 groundbreaking thinkers and practitioners from diverse fields and world regions, we conduct in-depth research, provide policy recommendations, and advocate for sustainable, equitable, and healthy food systems worldwide.
IPES-Food
in a nutshell
Rooted in science, and grounded in the realities of those on the front lines of hunger and climate crises, IPES-Food has since 2015 been a leading voice advancing policy solutions and bringing together alliances to address the major challenges facing food and farming.
Whether it be hunger and ill health, climate and biodiversity crises, deteriorating livelihoods, or slave labour – we know that food systems today need deep transformation.
IPES-Food
unique lens
Our
transformative
vision
Our vision is for diverse and resilient food systems that ensure social equity, thriving ecosystems and communities, and access to healthy and sustainable food for all.
IPES-Food
unique lens
Our
transformative
vision
Our vision is for diverse and resilient food systems that ensure social equity, thriving ecosystems and communities, and access to healthy and sustainable food for all.
IPES-Food Milestones
IPES-Food founded
IPES-Food was founded by the Daniel et Nina Carasso Foundation, Olivier De Schutter, and Emile Frison to inform debates on food system reforms around the world.
Putting food systems on the map
IPES-Food was an early pioneer of food systems as a unit of analysis – looking holistically at food production, processing, distribution, consumption, and disposal, and their effects on economies, health, societies and the environment. Our very first report called for thinkers and policy-makers to look at food as a system. This lens is widely used today.
Building an alliance of farmers, researchers and social movements for agroecology in West Africa
IPES-Food helped establish the Alliance for Agroecology in West Africa (3AO), a coordination and information platform composed of 70+ farmers’ organizations, research institutes/universities, international NGOs and social movements. It promotes and supports an agroecological transition in West Africa; advises ECOWAS on its agroecological transition support project; and has been recognized via partnerships with IFAD, GEF, FAO, ECOWAS and the African Union.
Paving the way for the EU’s landmark Farm To Fork strategy
IPES-Food co-developed a vision for a ‘common food policy’ in the EU, drawing on the collective intelligence of more than 400 farmers, food entrepreneurs, civil society activists and scientists. This flagship report significantly influenced the EU’s Farm To Fork strategy, and was endorsed by a European Parliament motion.
Bringing together a new broad-based EU Food Policy Coalition
IPES-Food helped build a new broad-based alliance – the EU Food Policy Coalition – made up of NGOs, grassroots social movements, farmers and fishers organisations, trade unions, thinktanks, and scientific groups, working towards EU policies to facilitate the transition to sustainable food systems.
Championing city action on climate and food systems
IPES-Food launched the Glasgow Food & Climate Declaration at the Glasgow climate summit (COP26), alongside partners and local and regional authorities. Since then over 120 local, city and regional authorities across 6 continents have joined the declaration, pledging to tackle the climate emergency through integrated food policies.
Forging consensus on principles of food systems transformation
IPES-Food and partners brought together 350+ organizations, and nearly 900 total signatories, around an ambitious ‘call to action for food systems transformation’ rooted in the 13 principles of agroecology.
IPES-Food
annual
activity
reports
Our funding
IPES-Food is grateful for the support of our funders who make our work possible: The Daniel and Nina Carasso Foundation, the IKEA Foundation, the Fondation Charles Léopold Mayer pour le progrès de l’Homme (FPH), the 11th Hour Foundation, the McKnight Foundation, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, and the Muriel Food Fund.
IPES-Food operates as an international non-profit organization (‘Association International Sans But Lucratif’ – AISBL). IPES-Food’s bylaws are available here.
