argia.eus
INPRIMATU
Are we prepared to leave the food of the people to the market?
  • Scientific evidence related to agroecology is fundamental in the design of public policies on food systems. Currently, large private corporations linked to agro-industry finance scientific research and absorb governance spaces. This is ASUNEK's first collaboration with the ARGIA Vital Garden. In the path of agroecological food systems, we will try to land the knowledge that comes from research and complement food with the practices of agents that strengthen food sovereignty in daily life.
Asunek Aintzira Oñederra Goiuri Alberdi 2023ko maiatzaren 29a
Irudiak erakusten du elikadura katearen maila bakoitzean zenbat enpresek merkatuaren ze zati eskuratua duten. Infografia: ETC Group. 2022. Food Barons 2022. Iturria: "IPESen Who´s tipping the scales" txostena.

In this paradox of science neutrality, we seek scientific evidence to face the current eco-social crisis from agroecology, addressing fair and normative public policies to strengthen local cultivation. Therefore, let us not forget that current public policies are designed with the help of science induced and financed by private corporations. For example, GM foods are essential to end global hunger, renewable energies will represent the consumption of fossil energies and will ensure a prolonged feeding of the engine of the capitalist system, the technification and digitization of agriculture in adaptation to climate change will save us, and a long and long time. Well, we may have to clarify this: the media are also interesting allies in extending and implementing scientific evidence.

In this sense, agro-industry is a unique “lobby”, of course, worldwide and also in our country! IPES Food spoke of this in its latest report, Who’s tipping the scales (Nor crouching scales), published last February. Specifically, the influence of corporate food companies on global agri-food governance processes.

To reverse this situation, the report presents us with three key principles for transforming the power structures of food governance. First, addressing the impact of corporations on food governance, taking measures to reduce the market power of companies. Secondly, to democratise governance and develop participatory mechanisms based on human rights to respond to the public interest. Third, the creation of autonomous processes, spaces for voices, demands and proposals of local movements.

This change in the structure of power implies a change of violent paradigm, since food goes from being managed under commercial interests to being a resource that responds to the public interest. And in this new panorama, does the public interest honestly know which feeding system needs to recover (or restore) to guarantee the quality of life of all?