Partnerships

“Nature, Power and Food Systems”: A Stakeholder Workshop

This workshop sought to bring together stakeholders, or rather ‘rightsholders’, from different power structures within food systems, to explore the role of power (and its increasing consolidation) in influencing people’s lived realities, and discuss how it may constrain the realization of each person’s full capacity such as by limiting access to nutrition, or income. There was representation from farmers and indigenous peoples to governments and civil society.

The workshop was structured around discussions in smaller Breakout Groups, moderated by a Facilitator. This was preceded by speaker addresses, and followed by a report back session, where Rapporteurs presented the main points of their group’s discussion.

• Welcome and Introduction: Professor Tim Benton, Research Director, Energy, Environment and Resources Programme, Chatham House
• Keynote Address:

• • Ajay Vir Jakhar, Chairman, Bharat Krishak Samaj (Farmers’ Forum India)
  • Professor Hannah Wittman, Faculty of Land and Food Systems and Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, University of British Columbia

• Commentaries: Views from diverse positions

• • Rukka Sombolinggi, Secretary General of the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN)
  • Moderated by Thiago Uehara, Research Fellow, Energy, Environment and Resources Programme, Chatham House

• Breakout discussions:

• • Room 1 – Agency

Facilitator – Vijay Kumar Thallam, Co-Vice Chairman, Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS) and Vice-Chair on Production to the UNFSS Champions Network

• • Room 2 – Social Structures

Facilitator – Dr Maliha Muzammil, Research Fellow, Energy, Environment and Resources Programme, Chatham House

• • Room 3 – Interests and Practical Knowledge

Facilitator – Thiago Uehara, Chatham House

• • Room 4 – Socialization and cultures

Facilitator – Richard King, Senior Research Fellow, Energy, Environment and Resources Programme, Chatham House

• Plenary: Moderated by Dr Helen Harwatt, Senior Research Fellow, Energy, Environment and Resources Programme, Chatham House

• Closing and next steps:  Christopher Hegadorn, Secretary, Committee on World Food Security