Sustainable food
30 October, 2019
We support IPES-Food to boost the food transition
The International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food) is a think tank that thinks innovatively about research, sustainability and food systems. The goal? Promoting sustainable food around the world
This independent group of specialists from 18 countries on five continents, unique in its composition and approach, brings together renowned thinkers and innovative profiles around global food systems. It also brings together environmental scientists, development economists, nutritionists, agronomists, sociologists and experienced professionals from civil society, or from various social movements.
This panel is co-chaired by Olivier De Schutter, former UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, and Olivia Yambi, nutritionist and former UNICEF representative in Kenya. Since 2015, IPES-Food has shaped the debate on global food system reform through scientific reports and detailed policy recommendations to be adopted.
A systemic, democratic and independent approach
We share IPES-Food’s systemic approach that recognizes the complex and interconnected nature of challenges in food systems and the power relations that shape decision-making. Also his spirit of democratizing knowledge, valuing both cutting-edge science and knowledge derived from indigenous and traditional experiences.
Its track record of co-building solutions with a wide range of food system actors makes IPES-Food a relevant agent in the transition to sustainable food systems. The panel does not accept funding from governments or corporations, allowing it to conduct its analysis independently to address the most pressing questions and solutions.
In addition to financially supporting the structuring of the initiative, the Foundation has committed itself in Spain to translate into Spanish and to actively disseminate the reports prepared by IPES-Food.
Reporting for a Food Transition
To date, this panel has published seven reports, of which there are translations in several languages, some also in Spanish.
1) Towards a common food policy for the EU: advocates establishing a direction for the entire food system that brings together the various sectoral policies that affect food production, processing, distribution and consumption by refocusing all actions towards the transition to sustainability.
2) Breaking with industrial food and agricultural systems: collects seven case studies of agroecological transition to overcome the blockages of industrial food systems.
3) Too big to feed: explore the impacts of mega-mergers, consolidation and concentration of power in the agri-food sector. Dominant agri-food companies have become too big to feed humanity sustainably, to operate on equitable terms with other actors, and to drive the necessary innovation.
4) Unravelling the food-health nexus: addressing practices, political economy, and power relations to build healthier food systems. It provides a comprehensive overview of the many interconnections between food systems and human health.
5) What makes urban food policy happen? Perspectives from five case studies: Through five case studies it provides information on the factors that enable the development of urban food policies.
6) From uniformity to diversity: a paradigm shift from industrial agriculture to diversified agroecological systems. It proposes a shift from industrial agriculture to diversified agroecological systems and identifies the eight blockages that delay the transition.
7) The New Science of Sustainable Food Systems: Overcoming Barriers to Food Systems Reform. It was the first IPES-Food report, proposes a new way of analysing food systems, and justifies going beyond the traditional boundaries of the scientific community.
“IPES-Food not only identifies and points out the challenges that the food system must face in order to become increasingly sustainable. He also proposes keys to advance in the change of model that we need. Its systemic approach is the key to building viable and feasible alternatives,” says Eva Torremocha, head of the Foundation’s Sustainable Food line in Spain.
