A Long Food Movement

Those working to build food systems that are just, equitable, and operate within planetary boundaries are facing a formidable task. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and rapidly declining soil fertility are critically damaging the health of people and the planet, dislocating societies, and threatening food systems around the world. The dynamics of power within global food systems are undergoing rapid shifts, marked by the rise of giant biodigital corporations and an emerging artificial ‘multi-stakeholderism’ conducted between corporations, governments, scientists and a handful of civil society organizations. 

Against this backdrop, IPES-Food and ETC Group consider what food systems could look like by 2045 if (agri)business-as-usual is allowed to run its course. We also envision what could happen if, instead, civil society and social movements reclaimed the initiative. 

By strategically thinking ahead, fostering cross-sectoral collaborations, engaging with governments, and transforming financial flows and governance structures, a ‘Long Food Movement’ could collaborate across sectors, scales, and strategic differences, work with governments and pressure them to act, and transform financial flows, governance structures, and food systems from the ground up. 

The report warns of specific threats to farming and food security if agribusiness plans come to fruition:

• AI is re-engineering ecosystems, and robotic tractors and drones are being rolled out as fast as digital infrastructures allow. Millions of rural dwellers will be forced to migrate to urban areas.
• Food – and now food data – are valuable strategic assets. A new wave of land, ocean, and resource grabs is imminent.
• Powerful corporations and major governments are now moving to control food supplies across vast economic corridors. Long, complex global supply chains will be more vulnerable to pandemics, climate change, and critical ‘chokepoints’.
• ‘Hyper-nudging’ is on the rise. Data from everyday transactions (digital wallets to automated food services) is increasingly combined with information harvested online to manipulate people’s eating habits in unprecedented ways.

The report lays out a series of strategies for a Long Food Movement to build sustainable food systems over the next 25 years – including: 

• Diverting funds from major commodity subsidies, research expenditures and ‘niche’ budget lines to small-scale food producers.
• Supporting short supply chains and territorial markets: By 2045, as much as 50% of food would be sourced from local and regional supply chains. 
• Levying taxes on junk food, toxins, CO2 and the revenues of multinationals.
• Adopting emergency food security measures that supersede trade and intellectual property rules.
• Ensuring that famine, malnutrition, and environmental degradation are considered as criminal violations that can be internationally prosecuted.
• Defending multilateralism by completing reforms of the UN Committee on World Food Security.