Copy
View this email in your browser
Press release

World Food Day: World Future Council calls for scaling up agroecology in times of a global hunger crisis


Hamburg, New York, Delhi, Cairo – 15 October 2020:  On World Food Day, the World Future Council warns governments that across the world, millions of people are threatened by hunger. The COVID-19 is the final straw to break the camel’s back: the pandemic is deepening existing hunger crises and increases inequalities.  Over-production, waste, unequal distribution and lack of resilience sadly are the characteristics of our globalised food system. Experts of the World Future Council urge to scale up agroecology now to eradicate hunger and poverty, build resilience, and strengthen children, citizens and smallholders.

“The recent COVID-19 pandemic is a symptom of a food system in critical need of transformation to address key health, nutrition, hunger, poverty, climate change and animal welfare issues at their roots. We request that the huge sums made available for restarting the economy be used proactively to further the food system’s agroecological transformation, restore the agroecosystem, and assure its long term resilience with a focus on food sovereignty, right to food and the universally agreed SDGs’ framework.” says Hans R.  Herren, world expert on agriculture and Councillor, World Future Council, Switzerland/US

“To ensure humankind’s survival and well-being, we need to respect nature and its life cycles. The pandemic is a wake-up call. Millions of smallholders have already been struggling before COVID-19 hit! With economies at the brink of collapse, our direction should be clear. Scaling up Agroecology by multiplying small farms and farmers is the only way forward. “ says Dr Vandana Shiva, Founding Councillor, World Future Council and Recipient of the Alternative Nobel Prize, India.

“COVID-19 does not only affect human health but the economic system, our social and cultural life. Food production is a cultural interaction with our soils. It is crucial for the wellbeing and development of human beings. Agroecological food production includes multiple solutions – it is not harmful to nature and people, it combats environmental challenges such as climate change. It is also the cheaper option in the long run which several studies already prove." says Helmy Abouleish, Councillor, World Future Council and CEO, Sekem, Egypt:

“By scaling up agroecology, it is possible to tackle malnutrition, social injustice, climate change, and loss of biodiversity. Through policymaking, we can transform our food systems so that they respect people and planet. The Future Policy Award winners prove that it is feasible – and how. Policymakers across the globe should follow their example and step up similar exemplary political action!” says Alexandra Wandel, Executive Director, World Future Council

Agroecology, as a practice and movement, is widely endorsed by scientists, civil society groups and farmers, protecting smallholders, indigenous farmers and community supported agriculture while assuring food security for all and the long term. 

Hunger and poverty can be eradicated applying without delay the proven holistic agroecological principles that challenge unsustainable food production, consumption and waste.
 
The World Future Council has awarded the world’s best policies on scaling up agroecology together with the FAO and IFOAM Organics International. Among the winners are the first 100 % organic state in the world: Sikkim, India, the Danish Organic Action Plan and the urban agriculture programme Agrupar from the City of Quito, Ecuador. See https://www.worldfuturecouncil.org/p/agroecology/
MEDIA CONTACT
Anna-Lara Stehn
Media & Communications Manager
World Future Council
anna-lara.stehn@worldfuturecouncil.org
+49 (0) 170 3813807

 
About the World Future Council
The World Future Council (WFC) works to pass on a healthy and sustainable planet with just and peaceful societies to our children and grandchildren. To achieve this, we focus on identifying, developing, highlighting, and spreading effective, future-just solutions for current challenges humanity is facing, and promote their implementation worldwide. The Council consists of 50 eminent global change-makers from governments, parliaments, civil societies, academia, the arts, and the business world. Jakob von Uexkull, the Founder of the Alternative Nobel Prize, launched the World Future Council in 2007. We are an independent, non-profit organisation under German law and finance our activities with institutional partnerships and donations. 
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
Flickr
LinkedIn
Website
ImprintPrivacyUnsubscribe
Copyright © 2020 World Future Council Foundation, All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
Flickr
LinkedIn
Website
ImpressumDatenschutzVon Mailing-Liste abmelden