Focus panel 16 – Transforming food for the wellbeing of people and planet

Summary

A transformation of food systems is crucial to go "beyond growth" and foster social prosperity while respecting the planetary boundaries. Food systems should be re-designed in a holistic way to increase resilience and reduce impacts on GHG emissions, prevent natural resources and biodiversity loss, while ensuring fair economic returns for all actors across the chain and addressing food and nutrition insecurity affecting millions of people.

In this context, the policy panel will aim to discuss:

• What are the gaps in the EU Farm to Fork Strategy that have to be addressed for the achievement of a Green and Social Deal and the full implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals;
• How should a long-term, comprehensive food policy for the wellbeing of people and planet look like;
• What policy transformations are needed to address the concentration of economic power in the food supply chain and ensure a fair distribution while remaining within the planetary boundaries, including what measures can help reduce excessive food price speculation;
• What lessons can be learnt from existing initiatives on the ground.

Chair

• Bas Eickhout - MEP (Greens/EFA), Beyond Growth Conference organiser

Speakers

• Timothy Lang - Emeritus Professor of Food Policy at City University London's Centre for Food Policy
• Peter Schmidt - President of the NAT Section, European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
• Marta Messa - Director, Slow Food Brussels office
• Fairouz Gazdallah - Policy Advisor Governance of Food Systems, Oxfam Belgium
• Jeroen Candel - Associate Professor on Food and Agricultural Policy, Wageningen University