“Good food to me…
“…simply means the accessibility to adequate quantities of nutritious and safe food that are sustainably produced and responsibly consumed in a manner that ensures the most minimal wastage possible.”
Albert Kure
Food security and lack of access to food is often at the forefront of dialogues about global food needs. Whilst a vital facet of global food systems, this neglects the fact that people can have access to adequate amounts of food and still be malnourished. It also fails to consider the impact food production has on our planet. Climate change has created challenges for global food production and global food production in turn has accelerated climate change through unsustainable farming and extraction of natural resources.
Good food is a broad term that encompasses the complexity of food challenges, and the opportunities it presents, recognising the geographical, cultural, economic and climactic circumstances that food production occurs in and its potential to impact each of these dynamics in turn.
In September of this year, United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres is convening the first United Nations Food Systems Summit. It will bring together farmers, Indigenous Peoples, young people and citizens from across the globe to discuss and put in place concrete commitments to make ‘Good Food For All’ – a UN campaign – a reality.
“To me good food…
…is the most intimate connection that we establish with people and the nature that is around us.”
Charles Michel
This campaign was set up to initiate conversation ahead of the Summit, and highlight the importance of good food for both people and the planet. It will inspire people to make changes to the ways we produce and consume by asking people what ‘good food’ means to them. It also recognises the unique connection we all have to food, from it being a source of sustenance, to a livelihood, to an experience over which to bond.
Hundreds of people from all around the world have submitted videos, exploring issues from accessibility, diversity and anti-oppression, to taste, production methods and sustainability. The topics touched on and the experiences shared highlight the multifaceted nature of this question.
“Good food to me is…
…embracing diversity and introducing a culture of empowerment while rethinking our habits through the perspective of true cost and affordability of food.”
Cherrie Atilano
This video campaign has also highlighted the issues that face our current food production systems.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to expose weaknesses in our food systems, which threaten the lives and livelihood of people around the world, particularly those living in fragile contexts and those most vulnerable through age, health, location, gender and other factors. This year’s The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report from the UN estimates that between 720 and 811 million people in the world faced hunger in 2020 – as many as 161 million more than in 2019.
Strong, sustainable food systems that enable everyone everywhere to realise their basic human right to good nutrition and health are critical, not only to building forwards more resiliently and sustainably from the pandemic, but also to mitigate the onset impacts of climate change.
“Today…
…what we eat, how we produce our food, how much we waste is failing our health and failing our planet. Science shows we can and must fix food.”
Gunhild Stordalen
The good news is that our good food advocates are optimistic that global food systems can shift to be more sustainable, equitable and accessible, in order to meet the challenges that face modern society and reverse the damaging impacts of COVID-19 and the climate crisis.
To hear more about ideas and solution for delivering good food for all, and what good food means to advocates around the world, see the videos submitted to the Good Food For All campaign below.
For more information about the Good Food For All campaign, read here on the United Nations Food Systems Summit page.
If you want to get involved in the campaign and tell us what good food means to you, you can join the video challenge here.
Did you like the images in this article? They are amongst the beautiful shortlisted photographs submitted to the Good Food For All competition. Find them all to enjoy here.
You can also add your voice to the many millions around the world calling on our governments to prioritise making good food accessible to everyone everywhere by becoming a Food Systems Hero here.
