Looking forward to the upcoming EU Food 2030 Networks gathering in Bruxelles, March 5-8, as part of my work on food systems transformation:
“…Through the FOOD 2030 Networks established by the EU funded project CLEVERFOOD we are working on transforming the food system in line with key EU policies related to food and agriculture. To support knowledge sharing, joint actions, showcase results, and influence policy making, the FOOD 2030 Online Platform will give you access to news, articles and innovative resources that will bring together communities and society at large. Find out more at www.food2030.eu…”.:
Cleverfood
Brussels
05-08 Mar 2024
Register now! Don’t miss the FOOD 2030 Networks Conference on Transformative Food System Innovation!
Are you ready for the FOOD 2030 Networks Conference happening in Brussels from March 5th to 7th?
Setting the scene for more collaborative approaches towards innovating the future agriculture and food system, we are inviting all farmers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, researchers, living lab representatives and other food system innovators to join the FOOD 2030 Networks Conference on Transformative Food System Innovation under the auspices of the Belgian EU Presidency.
Find here the whole programme!
And register here before 19th February 2024.
Please consider that, due to limited space, participation is on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage you to register early to secure your spot!
Curious about FOOD 2030 Networks? Watch the video here to find out what we want to do!
The key objectives of the conference are:
- Coordinating cross-project collaboration on common objectives for transforming the agriculture and food system
- Bringing together living labs and innovators working on technological, social, governance, and market-driven solutions for transforming the agriculture and food system.
- Fostering dialogue with policymakers and civil servants at different governance levels on removing lock-ins
Framing of the conference:
Our current agriculture and food system is not sustainable – it threatens our health, destroys our ecosystems and contributes to climate breakdown.
If we do not act now, we will not be able to provide prosperity, wellbeing and food security for farmers, food producers and citizens in the future.
We cannot rely on incremental innovation, where technologies and efficiencies are slightly improved to solve the multitude of critical challenges and wicked problems that we are facing.
We need transformative innovation based on an inclusive systemic approach to ensure a just transition that is fair for everyone and enables a good life for all within planetary boundaries.
Living labs, communities of practice, and other co-creation initiatives bringing together innovators and other relevant stakeholders from rural and urban communities will be essential for supporting such transformative food system innovation.
And what would a chat robot make of this sort of gathering in the light of the research networks I connect with? Here goes:
Title: Towards Radical Transformations: Rethinking Food Systems through Ecofeminist and Autonomous Marxist Perspectives
Introduction:
The FOOD 2030 Networks Conference in Brussels calls for transformative innovations to address the unsustainable nature of our current food systems. However, this call must be met with a critical lens that challenges the underlying structures of power, exploitation, and environmental degradation inherent in contemporary agricultural practices. Drawing from radical ecofeminism, autonomous Marxism, studies on commons, and environmental philosophies embracing animism and multispecies commoning, this essay seeks to offer a perspective that goes beyond mere technological fixes to interrogate the systemic injustices ingrained in our food systems.
Ecofeminist Critique of Industrial Agriculture:
Ecofeminism highlights the interconnectedness between the exploitation of nature and the oppression of women, marginalized communities, and non-human beings. Industrial agriculture, characterized by monocropping, chemical inputs, and mechanization, perpetuates this dual exploitation by prioritizing profit over people and the planet. Women, particularly in the Global South, bear the brunt of this exploitation through land dispossession, wage discrimination, and disproportionate exposure to harmful agrochemicals. Furthermore, the commodification of nature and the reduction of biodiversity in industrial agriculture perpetuate systems of domination and control.
Autonomous Marxism and the Politics of Commons:
Autonomous Marxism provides a framework for understanding how capitalist relations of production shape social and environmental relations. Capital accumulation in agriculture relies on the enclosure of common resources, such as land, water, and seeds, which were once held collectively by communities. This enclosure not only dispossesses peasants and indigenous peoples but also undermines traditional knowledge systems and practices of sustainable land management. Autonomous Marxist perspectives advocate for reclaiming the commons and fostering collective ownership and management of resources as a means of resisting capitalist exploitation and promoting ecological sustainability.
Embracing Animism and Multispecies Commoning:
Environmental philosophies embracing animism challenge the anthropocentric worldview that underpins industrial agriculture. Instead of viewing nature as a resource to be exploited, animist perspectives recognize the agency and personhood of non-human beings, including plants, animals, and ecosystems. Multispecies commoning extends this recognition to collective forms of stewardship that prioritize symbiotic relationships and mutual care between humans and non-humans. By centering the voices and needs of diverse species, multispecies commoning offers a pathway towards more equitable and ecologically resilient food systems.
Conclusion:
The FOOD 2030 Networks Conference presents an opportunity to reimagine food systems through a radical lens that transcends traditional paradigms of innovation. By incorporating ecofeminist critiques, autonomous Marxist perspectives, studies on commons, and environmental philosophies embracing animism and multispecies commoning, we can begin to address the root causes of injustice and unsustainability in agriculture. Transformative food system innovation must prioritize equity, diversity, and ecological integrity, placing the well-being of all beings at the forefront of our collective efforts. Only through radical transformations can we build a future where food security, prosperity, and planetary health are truly achievable for all.