Future Food System Summit Summary – Gender Perspective

FUTURE FOOD SYSTEM SUMMIT – GENDER PERSPECTIVE

Puebla

November 17 & 18 2023

BUAP Botanical Garden, Puebla

In our recent Future Food Systems Summits we held workshops that focused on a gender perspective. These workshops brought together diverse local actors within the Mexican agri-food system, including women’s collectives and organizations prioritizing gender equality and sustainability.

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

Day 1

Networking and guided visit to Centro Agroecológico Los Volcanes

During the visit to the Centro Agroecológico Los Volcanes, several sustainable initiatives were explored. The center has constructions using ecotechnologies for example: ecological dry toilets, wetlands for natural water treatment, and the production of organic compost. In addition, the presence of an edible forest was highlighted, which integrates trees and food-producing plants, exemplifying a model of sustainable and self-sufficient agriculture. This experience offered valuable lessons on agroecological practices that can be replicated in other contexts to promote sustainability and respect for the environment.

What happened in our Future Food Systems Summit

Day 2

Gender Perspective – Building a common vision for Puebla’s future food system at an individual and group level

On Day 2, a diverse group of local actors from the Mexican agri-food system—including women’s collectives and organizations focused on gender equality and sustainability—gathered to focus on issues related to gender and food systems. 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.

Common Values – Gender Perspective:

“Bondad”. I believe that capacity, which is a way of giving: giving our time, giving our opinion, giving what we offer to both others and the world, is a very important value.

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

  • Responsibility
  • Respect
  • Traditional Knowledge
  • Common Good
  • Equity
  • Dignity
  • Sustainability
  • Inclusion
  • Diversity
  • ‘Bondad’
  • Community
  • Well-Being

It not only involves giving a hand physically but also supporting both the group and individuals. It’s not just about giving time; it’s about giving work and sharing knowledge. This is like the ‘Mano Vuelta’ concept, which is a very important principle of community solidarity. It reflects in everything and relates to this aspect of building communities.

Final Vision – Gender Perspective:

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

We live in community where the common goods prevail with dignity and equity, respecting inclusion and diversity. Traditional knowledge in food systems provides wellbeing for society with responsibility. From the collective space, we ensure access for all to healthy, sufficient, local, safe, nutritious and sovereign food.

Our education, both formal and informal, is integral, retaking knowledge from our ancestors, rural and indigenous communities, and children grow in harmony with mother nature. Linking our system with friendly technologies, preparing producers in an integral way, optimizing self-sufficient productive systems.

We freely enjoy the process from the production to the tasting of food. We form a network where all the actors are integrated and committed. We have spaces for meetings and exchanges of food, knowledge/experiences. Based on ‘bondad’ we share the care labor and recognize it as an important part to sustain life.

Art representation of the vision

Special thanks to those who made this workshop possible:

Facilitator:

Sergio ‘Yeyo’ Beltrán

Researchers:

Kelzy Jepsen, M.Sc

Marisol Galicia, M.Sc

Dr. Anne Elise Stratton

Dr. Verena Seufert

Venue:

BUAP Botanical Garden,

Centro Agroecologico los Volcanes

Catering:

Tianguis Alternativo de Puebla

Artist:

Paola del Carmen López de la Cruz

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.

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Our Mexico team

  • Prof. Dr. Verena Seufert

    Junior Professor

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

    Postdoctoral Researcher

    • ae.stratton@uni-hohenheim.de
  • Marisol Galicia

    Research Coordinator Mexico

    • mexico@brightspotsproject.com
  • Kaya Lange

    M.Sc. Student

    • kaya.lange@uni-hohenheim.de
  • Kelzy Jepsen

    PhD Candidate

    • kelzy.jepsen@uni-hohenheim.de

Our Mexico collaborators

  • Dr. Ayari Pasquier

    Researcher & Collaborator - UNAM

    • ayaripasquier@gmail.com

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