Public Policies

Changing public policies governing our food and agricultural systems

"Our struggle includes changing public policies and governance structures that rule our food systems – from the local to the national, European and global levels – and to delegitimise corporate power. Public policies must be coherent, complementary and promote and protect food systems and food cultures.” (Nyéléni Europe Declaration, August 2011)

Current European and global public policies have a profound effect on food systems, reducing local and regional control and prioritising corporate interests over the rights of communities and small-scale producers. Heavily influenced by the demands of transnational corporations, they have brought significant damage to the resilient agricultural and food systems that are best suited to meet the challenges posed by the systemic crises in neoliberal globalisation.

In our struggle to develop policies that return dignity to all those involved in consumption and production of food, democratizing the structures of public policy is paramount; we seek to curb the influence of corporations at all levels – from local to national, European and global levels – and call for greater participation in public policy development and implementation. Redefining how public policies are formulated, such that the broadest possible citizen participation is the prime objective, should be the first step in entering the debate on policy formulation.

Reorienting European and global public policies towards the principles of food sovereignty requires reform of both the content of those policies and the processes to develop them. First and foremost, this means curbing the influence of corporations at all levels and democratisation to ensure the broadest possible citizen participation.