Future Food System Summit Summary

FUTURE FOOD SYSTEM SUMMIT

Kerala

January 24 & 25 2024

Central Training Institute, Mannuthy, Thrissur, Kerala Agricultural University

In our recent Future Food Systems Summits we brought together a diverse group of food system experts and change-makers.

This provided a unique platform for networking, identifying common goals, and developing actionable plans for a brighter future.

What happened in our Future Food Systems Summit

Building a common vision for Kerala’s future food system at an individual and group level.

To reach a shared vision, we began with individual perspectives of a desirable food system. Participants then collaborated in three diverse groups to create group visions. Together, we identified key values from these visions, which ultimately guided us in forming a collective shared vision.

Group -- Wholesome food for all

Common Values:

Agriculture should not harm people, the environment, or other living organisms. This should be the basis of agricultural practices. Agriculture should not only aim for achieving food security or nutritional security, it’s also deeply connected to the health of the Earth. Therefore, adopting a policy of “do no harm” is necessary.

– Summit participant

Participants came together and identified common values across the three group visions

  • Social and Community
  • Responsibility
  • Quality and Diversity
  • Food Security and Production
  • Efficient Resource Use
  • Environmental protection and conservation
  • Health and Well-being

A value which is that we all should have safe food, both in terms of quality and quantity. The value behind this is that wellbeing of a society should not be concentrated on a small section of society .This value is a very important for an inclusive society.

– Summit participant

Final Vision:

Based on common values, participants created a shared vision of a desirable food system in 2050

By 2050, our vision is to create a food system where safety, sustainability, and community thrive in harmony. We will ensure safe food by providing quality seeds and inputs and fostering increased biodiversity. Regional units for procurement, processing, and storage will be established, laying a strong foundation for food security. Sustainable production and processing methods will add value at every step, promoting the consumption of locally diverse and healthy food. Farmers will achieve financial independence, supported by technology-enabled and ethically managed supply chain systems.

Decentralised production based on demand will become the norm, and community farms with shared produce and resources will flourish. Local incubation facilities and knowledge centres will become innovation hubs, and a strong local marketing network will strengthen and support Self Help Groups (SHGs), ensuring every farmer’s produce finds a market. Framers will be getting a farm level branding to showcase the unique qualities of their produce, and block chain systems will maintain transparency and trust.

Our vision encourages the cultivation of health-oriented agricultural products and promotes integrated farming to produce a variety of foods, increasing production from each unit of land. Campaigns will promote a culture of healthy eating, and the community will make effective use of locally available resources, including composts. Through dedication and innovative approaches, we will ensure safe, nutritious food for all, creating a sustainable and cooperative model that inspires communities far and wide.

Art representation of the vision

Special thanks to those who made this workshop possible:

Facilitator:

Dr. Motti Zachariah

Researchers:

Dr. Verena Seufert

Dr. Anne Elise Stratton,

Dr. Haseena Kadiri,

Professor Dr. Archana Sathyan

Venue:

Central Training Institute,

Kerala Agricultural University

Catering:

Hort’s Aahara,KAU Vellanikkara

Artist:

Vishnu A S

Workshop Design:

Altekio (Conchi Pineiro and Cintia Lara)

Check out the Summit Summary 

Click on the link to read the group vision summaries and common values.

BRIGHT SPOTS CONVERSATIONS

Join us on October 8th, 2024 to continue the conversation! Click on the poster to get the meeting link.

The journey continues

Stay Connected with Bright Spots Project

As we move forward with the Bright Spots project, our next step is to identify indicators that will help us track our progress toward our shared vision for a better food system. By mapping these indicators, we aim to uncover “bright spots”—positive examples of sustainable agriculture and food systems in Mexico and India. These bright spots are not just solutions; they can be sources of inspiration and practical knowledge that can help us improve our food systems.

We invite you to stay connected with the Bright Spots project as we collectively seek solutions to food system sustainability challenges. By working together, we can gain a deeper understanding, learn from these positive examples, and work to share this valuable knowledge in ways that are meaningful to you.

Your ongoing engagement is vital as we build on the momentum generated during the Summits. Thank you for being an essential part of our journey toward a resilient and sustainable food future!

Stay tuned for future updates, and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

If you haven’t already, please fill out our survey

Our India team

  • Prof. Dr. Verena Seufert

    Junior Professor

    • verena.seufert@uni-hohenheim.de
  • Dr. Anne Elise Stratton

    Postdoctoral Researcher

    • ae.stratton@uni-hohenheim.de
  • Dr. Haseena Kadiri

    Research Coordinator India

    • india@brightspotsproject.com
  • Vrindaja Vikram

    Research Coordinator India

    • india@brightspotsproject.com
  • Julie Fortin

    PhD Candidate

    • julie.fortin@uni-hohenheim.de
  • Simran Kaur

    Research Coordinator India

    • india@brightspotsproject.com

Our India collaborators

  • Dr. Archana Raghavan Sathyan

    Assistant Professor & Collaborator - Kerala Agricultural University

    • archana.rs@kau.in
  • Dr. Satyapriya

    Principal Scientist & Collaborator- Division of Agricultural Extension, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute

    • head_exten@iari.res.in
  • Dr. S R Bishnoi

    Scientist, & Collaborator Division of Agricultural Extension, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute,

    • srbishnoi@iari.res.in
  • Dr. Vijesh Krishna

    Research Collaborator, Lead Economist at CIMMYT Hyderabad

    • v.krishna@cgiar.org

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