Farmers' Rights & Food Sovereignty

Farmers' Rights, endorsed by FAO in 1989, recognizes that farmers and rural communities have contributed greatly -- and continue to contribute -- to the creation, conservation, exchange and enhancement of genetic resources, and that they should be recognized and strengthened in their work. The ETC Group believes that Farmers' Rights must be recognized at the international level, and that its definition should be expanded by the human rights community as part of the Right to Food. Food sovereignty has largely replaced the more limited and less empowering concept of food security. Food sovereignty refers to the rights of peoples, communities and countries to define their own agricultural labour, fishing, food and land policies which are ecologically, socially, economically and culturally appropriate to their unique circumstances. It includes the true right to food and to produce food, which means that all people have the right to safe, nutritious and cultural appropriate food and to food producing resources and the ability to sustain themselves and their societies. (Source: Practical Action www.practicalaction.org)

Tools for Challenging Industry Narratives 8 Nov 2023
Research shows that mass seaweed plantations pose a major threat to marine ecosystems and are unlikely to capture or permanently store significant quantities of carbon. 20 Sep 2023
Food Barons report cover art
“Climate smart agriculture” will worsen the climate crisis 26 Jan 2023
Digital agriculture and climate financialisation illustration
Emerging Cases in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines 13 Dec 2022
Tech Won't Save Us podcast cover with photo of Jim Thomas
The potential consequences of the digitalization of agriculture 9 Nov 2022
Food Barons 2022 report - cover art
Crisis Profiteering, Digitalization and Shifting Power 7 Sep 2022
A critical approach to the digitalisation of food systems - What’s there to know? Introductory teach-ins 21 Jun 2022
The cover of the backgrounder report
Explaining competing claims of 70% vs. 30% and why it matters 31 Jan 2022
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has bumbled into a controversy over whether peasants or agribusiness feed most of the world. 31 Jan 2022