Global Governance

Food systems are significantly shaped by the policies and funding flows of international institutions, governments, donors, and private companies, particularly in developing countries. The Committee on World Food Security (CFS) and other global fora provide opportunities to secure smallholder livelihoods and defend access to food, land, and seeds – and to accelerate urgently needed climate action. But these processes face numerous challenges and threats. Through various workstreams, IPES-Food inputs directly into global governance processes, as well as analyzing the funding flows of global food system actors, and identifying opportunities for reforming food system governance and enhancing civil society’s ability to influence it.
In this regard, IPES-Food has released a memo (12 November 2020) outlining our position on the UN Food Systems Summit: why we remain sceptical, and why we are getting involved. IPES-Food has also made the case for a real restructuring of global ag-research centres, notably the CGIAR.
Publications
All publicationsAnother Perfect Storm? How the failure to reform food systems has allowed the war in Ukraine to spark a third global food price crisis in 15 years, and what can be done to prevent the next one.
An 'IPCC for food'? How the UN Food Systems Summit is being used to advance a problematic new science-policy agenda
IPES-Food warns that the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) is being used to advance a new mode of decision-making that could exclude many voices in food systems. A small but influential group of actors has long been demanding the creation of a new panel – an ‘IPCC for Food’ – to streamline decisions on the future of food systems. On the eve of the UNFSS Science Days, where the idea will be showcased, IPES-Food underlined the importance of science-based decision-making. However, the briefing note warned that the new panel – as planned – risks imposing a narrow view of science, and shutting down democratic debate.
13 Key Principles of Agroecology: A unifying framework for food systems transformation
A Long Food Movement: transforming food systems by 2045
EU Trade Policy for Sustainable Food Systems
IPES-Food and the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) provide specific recommendations on how the EU can support the global transition to more sustainable food systems. As the world’s largest food importer, the EU can use its trade policies and agreements to stimulate and incentivise more sustainable practices by its trade partners.
Read the brief ( EN )
Money Flows: what is holding back investment in agroecological research for Africa?
In collaboration with Biovision and IDS, IPES-Food analyses the financial flows in food system research that go to sub-Saharan Africa. Our new data shows that only a fraction of agricultural research funding in Africa is being used to move food and farming systems towards greater sustainability.
Read the Full Report ( EN )
Read the Executive Summary ( EN | FR | ES | DE )
COVID-19 and the Crisis in Food Systems
The Glasgow Food Climate Declaration
The Glasgow Food and Climate Declaration brings together local and regional authorities from across the world to speak with a unified voice in committing to putting into practice integrated food policies to tackle the climate emergency.
Visit the website
Agroecology Info Pool
Part of joint project between Biovision and IPES-Food, the Agroecology Info Pool contains convincing cases, a criteria tool to assess projects or policies, and an assessment of the impacts of various agroecological interventions on all Sustainable Development Goals. This website serves as a platform to provide evidence, knowledge, and experiences on the impacts and multiple benefits of agroecology.
Contribution to the CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition
IPES-Food’s contribution to the first draft of the CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition (VGFSyN). The contribution supports the CFS process, while underlining current gaps and shortcomings that must be addressed.
Contribution to the CFS Policy Convergence on Agroecological and Other Innovative Approaches
IPES-Food's contribution to the FAO Committee on World Food Security (CFS) Policy Convergence Process on Agroecological and Other Innovative Approaches, urging the CFS to make bold recommendations on agroecology, underlining its unique potential to spark food system transformation.
Media
All mediaPODCAST | The Food Price Crisis
Farm Gate
OPINION | Food Price Spikes Are About Much More than Ukraine
Civil Eats
As conflict and climate change bite, are high food prices here to stay?
Reuters
Die Bomben fallen, die Kurse steigen
Der Spiegel
L'agriculture verte, seule solution durable à l'insécurité alimentaire mondiale
TV5 Monde
Raj Patel: Global South Faces Brunt of Soaring Food Prices Amid War in Ukraine
Democracy Now
Organizations Providing Food Relief in Ukraine
Food Tank
How Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will worsen global hunger
The New Humanitarian
PODCAST | Glasgow Food & Climate Declaration
Farm Gate
These cities and towns have food at the heart of their climate plans. Why don’t nations?
National Observer
OPINION | The UN’s Big Climate Summit Is Ignoring a Giant Red Flag
Mother Jones
Why many food experts don’t want a new international body for food science
Grist
INTERVIEW | Good COP, bad COP: Why inaction on food systems should be ‘unthinkable’
Food Talks
L'agroécologie s'invite au sommet de l'ONU sur la sécurité alimentaire
Les Echos
OPINION | UN summit stays silent on root causes of our failing food system
Reuters
OPINION | The Corporate Capture of the UN Food Summit
Project Syndicate
PODCAST | Do we need an IPCC for food?
Farm Gate
INTERVIEW | Pat Mooney: “It’s More A Call To ‘Armies’ Than Arms” on ‘A Long Food Movement’
Arc2020
OPINION | The world needs a food movement based on agroecology and equity
MONGABAY
OPINION | Six Months to Prevent a Hostile Takeover of Food Systems, and 25 Years to Transform Them
Common Dreams
PODCAST | The Glasgow Food & Farming Declaration
Food Talk
‘Big Ag has not delivered’: Food security under threat from agribusiness giants, warns report
Food Navigator
OPINION | Governments must lead the charge in agroecology
Devex
EU net-zero aim 'in tatters' as lawmakers fail to shift farm rules, critics charge
REUTERS
Global goals: Is there still time to save the world?
THOMSON REUTERS FOUNDATION
OPINION | For sustainable agriculture in West Africa, let’s leave our echo chambers
African Arguments
West Africa’s path to resilience and SDGs through agroecology
KENYA BROADCASTING CORPORATION (kbc)
OPINION | ‘One CGIAR’ with Two Tiers of Influence? The Case for a Real Restructuring of Global Ag-Research Centres
INTER PRESS SERVICE (IPS)
REGARDEZ | Agriculture en Afrique : des donateurs intéressés ?
France 24
OPINION | Need for a radical shift in Africa’s agricultural funding models
THE STAR (KENYA)
Agroecology Strengthens Farmers’ Resilience But Highly Underfunded in Africa
INTER PRESS SERVICE (IPS)
Industrial agriculture receiving bulk of Africa’s agricultural development funding
THE STANDARD (KENYA)
Olivier De Schutter : "61% des travailleurs dans le monde n'ont aucune protection sociale"
FRANCE INTER
Covid-19: Global food supply on a razor's edge
France 24
The food supply chain is not yet in danger— but the workers who keep us fed are
The Intercept
Op-ed by IPES-Food's Olivier De Schutter and Olivia Yambi
FOOD TANK
Olivier De Schutter comments on opaque preparations for UN Food Systems Summit
The Guardian