Items tagged:
Food security
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From New Zealand to Africa: managing land use trade-offs
As part of the Sentinel project, IIED has developed a new virtual training tool for analysing trade-offs in land use decisions. Xiaoting Hou-Jones shares how the tool was inspired by a decision-making framework designed by a team from Lincoln University, New Zealand, and evolved through trialling it in Ghana and Zambia.
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Digital tools amplify the voice of women in Peruvian communities
Perú’s ollas comunes or community-led soup kitchens – a community response to COVID-19 based on solidarity, tradition and resilience that is breaking gender norms – have embraced a hybrid way of working to ensure women’s voices are heard
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Food Systems Summit: implications for global food governance
Last week's Food Systems Summit raised questions about global governance models in a policy area fundamental to everyone’s lives. Lorenzo Cotula argues that, without clear decision-making rules and effective structures to manage power differentials, bringing diverse actors together produces ‘capture’ rather than inclusion
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Reconciling food production and forest conservation: priorities for the UN Food Systems Summit
In the latest blog in our ‘food year’ series, guest blogger Hambulo Ngoma discusses the potential policy collisions between producing food to feed growing populations and conserving our forests
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Indigenous food systems prove highly resilient during COVID-19
Indigenous Peoples’ local agroecological food systems bring valuable lessons of resilience for policymakers heading to next month’s UN Food Systems Summit
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We also want greens in our meals: community gardens in the Philippines
One of the founding mothers of the Homeless People’s Federation of the Philippines, Ofelia Bagotlo, describes how community gardens on vacant city plots are providing vital nutrition for the urban poor
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African social movements call on UN food summit to give people back control
In the second blog in our ‘food year’ series, guest blogger Million Belay explains why now is the time to demand a better food system that works for small-scale food producers in Africa – who account for most of the world’s food insecure
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UN Food Systems Summit: it’s time to listen to civil society’s concerns
Guest blogger Molly Anderson kicks off a new blog series leading up to the UN’s first ever Food Systems Summit. Here, Anderson sets out practical ways for the summit’s convenors to regroup after getting off to a rocky start
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IIED’s 'food year' blog series explores policies and practice to transform our food systems
In the lead up to the first ever global summit on food, IIED launches a new series of blogs to contribute to the debate about food systems transformation
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Promoting producer agency in food systems – might new global guidelines offer any hope?
With a new set of guidelines on food systems and nutrition under negotiation, Emily Polack reflects on their potential to give small-scale producers a greater say in food systems governance – one key to a healthier, fairer and more sustainable future for all
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The inconvenient truth about ‘capacity’ strengthening in global development
To work with effective and progressive civil society movements in low-income countries, do international NGOs need to do less capacity strengthening, and work as allies of these movements instead? Drawing on lessons from a new report, Natalie Lartey discusses how advocates can advance this agenda
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Food systems of the poor: shaping the agenda for the Food Systems Summit
In the lead up to the UN Food Systems Summit in 2021, this online IIED event on 25 November explored how food systems transformation can be relevant for people living in poverty
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Putting informal food systems at the centre of sustainable diets
A new report from IIED and Hivos calls for a rethink about how sustainable diets can be achieved in low-income countries, with informal food systems central to that goal
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To address food insecurity in Uganda post COVID-19 the government must act now
In the wake of COVID-19, food insecurity in Uganda is drastically increasing. Food Rights Alliance and Twaweza East Africa call on the government to take specific and urgent action
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Food insecurity: an appetite for change
On International Youth Day, Facebook guest blogger Naomi Gammon discusses the role of young people in reshaping unhealthy patterns of food consumption
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Lima's community-organised soup kitchens are a lifeline during COVID-19
In Lima’s informal settlements, ollas comunes – community-led soup kitchens – are reviving strong traditions of self-organised crisis response and resilience among the urban poor.
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Three pillars for food system change: inclusivity, joint vision and long-term commitment
A new paper identifies three key ingredients multi-actor initiatives need to drive change in the food system
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Common cause with people in the food systems of the majority
Bill Vorley discusses why we need a much deeper understanding of and partnership with people in the food systems that feed and provide livelihoods for low-income women and men
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Uganda’s hungry food vendors: counting the cost of COVID-19
Interviews as part of a new study show how lockdown restrictions are leaving Uganda’s food vendors hungry and vulnerable
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Resilient food systems and COVID-19: lessons for a Just Transition
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed huge vulnerabilities and inequalities in food systems. They are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change: to droughts, floods, typhoons, sea-level rise – the current locust outbreak in East Africa. But they are also part of the problem, contributing about one third of global greenhouse gas emissions and being highly inequitable too. Krystyna Swiderska spells out what needs to change
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Curbing the impacts of COVID-19 on Nepal’s small-scale farmers and seizing opportunities for food system reform
Guest blogger Jagat Deuja puts forward practical measures for minimising damage to Nepal’s small-scale farming sector and ways to build resilient food systems in the longer term
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What makes a sustainable diet? And who decides? Make Change Happen podcast episode 5
Globally, we are producing more food than ever. But for many of the world’s poorer citizens, secure access to safe food is becoming less certain. To counter this, an advocacy programme called Sustainable Diets for All is asking: how can we create food systems that are fairer, healthier and more sustainable? We explore the programme’s citizen-led approach and hear from local partners
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Is adaptation the missing ingredient from the new UN biodiversity action plan?
This week governments from across the world will meet in Rome to discuss the first draft of a new global action plan to tackle biodiversity loss. Dilys Roe asks whether there is something missing from the agenda
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Urban poor community voices take to the stage at the World Urban Forum
Stories from urban poor communities inspired international audiences at the 10th World Urban Forum
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The champions helping communities make better food choices
In Jember, Indonesia, children and young people are bearing the brunt of unhealthy eating habits. Isnatul Mu'allifin explains how this new generation is using data – gathered with and by the community – to drive tangible, positive change in people’s diets
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Informal food markets offer diverse food products and crucial livelihood opportunities
An IIED discussion paper highlights the importance of informal food markets in Zambia
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Africa’s evolving food systems
Most rural Africans now live and farm in liberalised markets, which most African and international policy forums assume to be the best basis for economic activities. But there is considerable debate about these developments, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa
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Q&A: Encouraging the availability of healthy and diverse foods for students
Creating change often starts from the ground up. A teacher in East Java province, Indonesia, explains how she is working with parents and pupils to learn about healthy food choices
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The Ugandan diet: food voices and choices
Farmers, food providers and consumers from Gulu, Buikwe and Kabarole Districts give their personal views on the Ugandan diet and food supply.
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Harnessing the potential of Zambia’s informal food sector
A new report on informal food markets in Zambia explores how integrating these into urban policy planning could help Zambia achieve 'zero hunger'.
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Urban food insecurity and malnutrition are about more than just food
Food insecurity, malnutrition and obesity are increasingly becoming urban issues, affecting the health of millions of children and adults. The new issue of Environment & Urbanization looks at the wider context of urban food and nutrition security and the challenges for policymakers
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Dietary indicators need overhauling, food diary study finds
A recent study assessing dietary quality in Indonesia showed there is an urgent need to develop and validate assessment methods that will address the triple burden of malnutrition in an integrated way
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Beyond maize: exploring agricultural diversification in Zambia
Zambia's food system is widely seen as not working. A new report looks at how to increase crop diversity, support better nutrition and support resilience at local and national level
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The two faces of Bandung’s street food: recreation and reliance
A new report highlights the central role that street food plays in the food security of low-income workers
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Tackling widespread hunger in cities means listening to the urban poor
As urban food insecurity attracts growing interest in policy debates, Cecilia Tacoli makes the case for ensuring that the views of poor urban residents both inform and shape solutions.
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Keeping Bolivia’s culture alive through food
On Sustainable Gastronomy Day (18 June), guest blogger Angel Ramos explores initiatives that are helping to preserve Bolivia’s rich food heritage
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Mountain communities stress the importance of biocultural heritage for global food security
Ahead of an intergovernmental forum on biodiversity and food security, the International Network of Mountain Indigenous Peoples has published a report highlighting the importance of biodiversity and indigenous knowledge for climate adaptation
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Understanding the role of small farms in Europe (SALSA)
IIED and partners are working to better understand why small farms matter not just in Africa but in Europe’s own countryside
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Q&A: Women in rural India are nature’s guardians
Reetu Sogani describes the special bond between women in India and the country’s natural resources – a connection that positions them as key preservers and managers of biodiversity. Despite this, women’s voices often go unheard in policies intended to support biodiversity conservation
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Achieving real transformation in our food system
Frank Mechielsen of Hivos reports back from the annual Committee for Food Security, the main international platform that explores food security concerns. He describes how joint action can deliver much needed change in the way we produce and consume our food
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Food, sisterhood and dreams
On World Food Day, Nicole Szucs reports back from a dialogue on increasing dietary diversity and local food systems in Bolivia, and highlights a new video showing how women play a vital role in the food cycle, from production to consumption
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How the urban poor define and measure food insecurity
There is growing interest in food consumption and its links to urbanisation but the views of the real experts, the urban poor, do not get the attention they deserve. IIED and the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights are asking poor women in cities in Cambodia and Nepal about the challenges of putting food on the table
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Social and environmental trade-offs in African agriculture
In sub-Saharan Africa, achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of 'zero hunger' (SDG2), while reducing inequalities (SDG10) and conserving ecosystems (SDG15), is a big challenge. A new IIED-led research project aims to develop knowledge, relationships and research capacities to address this task
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Reframing food security for an urbanising world
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of zero hunger by 2030 means taking account of changes in both rural and urban contexts. Cecilia Tacoli reports back from a workshop organised with IFAD on some of the issues raised
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Sustainable diets for all
Through citizen action, the Sustainable Diets for All programme promoted diets that were diverse, healthy, fair, and sustainable
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Urbanisation, rural-urban transformations and food systems
Urbanisation drives profound transformations in rural areas and in food systems, presenting both challenges and opportunities for poverty reduction, rural development and food security. Policies at the local, national, regional and global scales are of critical importance in shaping rural-urban linkages and the political economy of food systems
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Food summit secures strong commitment to drive change in Ugandan food systems
A two-day gathering in the town of Fort Portal, in Kabarole District in western Uganda, concluded with firm pledges from politicians, farmers, street vendors, technical experts, civil society, church leaders and youth, setting out how they will each tackle the deepening problems in the region's food systems
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Nurturing the shoots of China's sustainable agriculture
A growing trend towards sustainable food offers hope for addressing environmental, social and food safety concerns associated with China's food system
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May we suggest a cricket crostini? Mealworm chocolates?
A session at the Development and Climate Days conference looked at the potential of insects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from food production.
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Five ways to make farming more sustainable
A recent workshop in Mozambique identified five ways to sustainably intensify agriculture. In food insecure countries, large-scale investments are often considered a major driver of agricultural growth, but these can promote monocultures and intensive approaches that damage the environment and progressively decrease soil fertility.
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2015: the International Year of Soils
The UN has formally launched 2015 as the International Year of Soils. Much of IIED's work involves soils, including our work on agroecology, food and agriculture, biodiversity, adaptation to climate change, and drylands
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Sustainable agriculture in China: then and now
The environmental impacts of China's agricultural production affect not just China, but also the global environment. An IIED and China Agricultural University workshop explored examples and models that could help promote sustainable agricultural practices in China
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IIED 'Critical Theme' seminar: Climate change and food security
The head of the Food Systems Programme Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute (ECI) highlighted the links between food security and environmental change at an IIED seminar
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Unmissable opportunity to build food security and reduce GHGs at Paris COP
International research organisations are stressing the need for climate agreements to support traditional farming, given its role in both adaptation and mitigation
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GWI West Africa: project background
Agriculture in large-scale rice irrigation schemes needs to be made to work for both the state, in terms of economic returns and national food security, and for the smallholders whose livelihoods depend on it. When it comes to the development of new dams and large-scale irrigation, more information is needed about their economic viability and how the water, land, and economic benefits can be shared equitably to support local development
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Indigenous mountain communities call on governments to support traditional knowledge-based adaptation
An International network of Mountain Indigenous Peoples has been formed to advocate for community biocultural heritage rights and help achieve food sovereignty and climate change adaptation
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Indigenous farmers from Peru, China and Bhutan agree to share seeds for climate adaptation
In the spirit of the International Year of Family and Peasant Farming, indigenous mountain farmers from China, Bhutan and Peru have agreed to share seeds in an effort to cope with global climate change
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Indigenous spiritual values guide climate change adaptation in mountain communities
Cultural and spiritual values of indigenous peoples and climate change will be the focus of an international event in the Potato Park, Cusco, Peru
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Up in the air: Citizen scientists map food dangers in Nairobi
A balloon, a camera and some interviews are helping researchers map a hidden aspect of food insecurity in an informal settlement in Nairobi
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Feeding the World: Why we must do more than just increase yields
A new paper published today by the journal Science argues that to ensure sustainable food supplies for the Earth’s growing population, policymakers must focus on more than just food production.
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Report warns of ways climate change threatens food security of urban poor
Policies to increase food security in the global South focus too much on rural food production and not enough on ensuring poor people can access and afford food, especially in urban areas, says a report published today by the International Institute for Environment and Development.
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Valuing variability
Dryland communities have learnt to harness the variability of their highly unpredictable environments to support sustainable and productive economies, societies and ecosystems. In the face of climate change, development policy everywhere should draw on their knowledge and experience
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Agricultural development: business as usual is not an option
Following the 2008 global food price hikes and riots, national governments and transnational corporations are increasingly interested in investing in large-scale African agricultural projects. While these land acquisitions gather pace, 925 million people remain undernourished worldwide, with 239 million living in sub-Saharan Africa. In this new context, the question is not only how sustainable large-scale industrial agriculture is, but also what model of food production and farming is most effective in addressing the question of hunger – and for whom.
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Mozambique: the next Atlantis?
Mozambique is a country plagued with a history of floods and poverty. Lying on the south east coast of Africa, its coastline spans over 2700km with its lowest point level to the Indian Ocean. So it needs to be prepared for sea-level rises caused by climate change.
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Can small-scale farmers feed the world?
The world’s food systems are being squeezed from all sides: rising populations and shifting diets are increasing the global demand for food, while food production is increasingly compromised by climate change and land degradation.
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Food security in 2050: how can we make it fairer and more sustainable?
A new report from the United Kingdom finds that securing food supplies in 2050 means growing more food, on the same land, with fewer impacts. That requires shifts in policy and practice that we can achieve using a mix of politics, science and market forces.
