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Stop the corporate hijack of the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit!

As of 30 June 2021, a total of 155 organizations from 31 countries and seven advocates have supported this sign-on statement. This was sent to concerned UN offices such as the Committee on World Food Security and officials including UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food Michael Fakhri. For organizations that would like to join the list of signatories, kindly email us at secretariat@foodsov.org with your name and organization. Individuals may sign here.

We, civil society organizations, grassroots groups and advocates for the welfare of marginalized sectors, call for the revocation of the 2019 Strategic Partnership  between the United Nations (UN) and the World Economic Forum (WEF) and its implications for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

We express our grave concerns with regard to the WEF’s opportunism in attempting to influence the processes and outcome of the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit (FSS) through this partnership. The WEF – an organized global platform in which the world’s corporate giants, plutocrats and heads of states converge to promote the corporate agenda in the guise of “improving the state of the world” – aims to cement its dictate through the recalibration of our food systems and agriculture. By positioning themselves as indispensable actors in accelerating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, they are, in reality, attempting to further their own interests in amassing super profits. A clear indication of this is their financing of the 2030 Agenda as the first area of focus specified in the UN-WEF strategic partnership framework and the appointment of an agribusiness representative as the Special Envoy for the Summit.

We reject this corporate hijacking of the 2021 FSS. The WEF will exploit the Summit to streamline neoliberal globalization, which it has espoused for the past 50 years. It is the perfect venue to push for the role of “Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies” to transform food systems, which the WEF has been championing since 2017. A corporate-led FSS would be a great advantage to the political elites and corporate billionaires, enabling them to pose hypocritically as responsible entities that promote healthier diets and climate action.

We therefore urge the UN to rescind the involvement of the WEF in the FSS. We recognize the Summit’s potential for decisively addressing the structural issues hounding our food systems and agriculture, but the change we envision is impossible to achieve so long as the WEF is involved. It would mean that global inequality and corporate monopoly would be sidetracked rather than confronted as the root causes of perennial hunger, malnutrition and extreme poverty in the world.

Lastly, we appeal for inclusivity. The sidelined and marginalized sectors in society – the poor farmers, workers, Indigenous Peoples, herders, pastoralists, fisherfolks, urban poor, women, Dalits, and youth – should replace these corporate moguls in shaping the Summit’s proceedings and reforms. Their demands, interests and welfare should set the tone and direction of the Summit’s declarations. People’s rights should take center stage in the 2021 UN FSS.

For a truly inclusive transformation of food systems! ###

Signatories (this list is regularly updated):

Global/International

  1. People’s Coaliton on Food Sovereignty (PCFS)
  2. Youth for Food Sovereignty
  3. IBON International
  4. International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL)
  5. Dayak International Organization
  6. Global Forest Coalition
  7. International Movement of Catholic Agricultural and Rural Youth (MIJARC)
  8. Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisations

Regional

  1. Asian Peasant Coalition
  2. Asia Pacific Research Network
  3. Arab Group for the Protection of Nature, WANA
  4. Arab Network for Food Sovereignty, WANA
  5. PAN Asia Pacific
  6. PCFS Europe
  7. Eastern & Southern Africa Farmers’ Forum

National:

  1. Agencia de Desarrollo Local Nariño, Colombia
  2. Agroecology X, Philippines
  3. Aliansi Gerakan Reforma Agraria (AGRA), Indonesia
  4. Alin Ein Development, Myanmar
  5. All Bangla Fishermen’s Association, Bangladesh
  6. All Nepal Agriculture Workers’ Association
  7. All Nepal Agro-Forest Peasants’ Association
  8. All Nepal Bee-Keeping Peasants’ Association
  9. All Nepal Cardamom Producer Peasants’ Association
  10. All Nepal Cereal Producer Peasants’ Association
  11. All Nepal Coffee Farmers’ Association
  12. All Nepal Dairy Farmers’ Association
  13. All Nepal Dalit and Landless Peasants’ Association
  14. All Nepal Fish Farmers’ Association
  15. All Nepal Fruit Farmers’ Association
  16. All Nepal Ginger-Turmeric Producer Peasants’ Association
  17. All Nepal Herb Producer Peasants’ Association
  18. All Nepal Irrigation-Water Users’ Association
  19. All Nepal Livestock Farmers’ Association
  20. All Nepal Mushroom Farmers’ Association
  21. All Nepal Nursery and Floriculture Peasants’ Association
  22. All Nepal Nut Farmers’ Association
  23. All Nepal Peasants’ Federation
  24. All Nepal Potato Producer Peasants’ Association
  25. All Nepal Poultry Farmers’ Association
  26. All Nepal Rubber Farmers’ Association
  27. All Nepal Spice Producers Peasants’ Association
  28. All Nepal Sugarcane Farmers’ Association
  29. All Nepal Tea Producer Peasants’ Association
  30. All Nepal Vegetable Farmers’ Association
  31. All Nepal Women Peasants’ Association
  32. Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women, Philippines
  33. Andra Pradesh Agricultural Workers Union (APVVU), India
  34. Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Labour Federation
  35. Bangladesh Krishok Federation
  36. Bangladesh Resource Center for Indigenous Knowledge
  37. Cambodia’s Independent Civic-Servant Association
  38. Campaign for Peace and Democracy, Manipur
  39. Centre for Human Rights & Development, Mongolia
  40. Chama District Women’s Development Association, Zambia
  41. Coalition of Cambodian Farmer Communities, Cambodia
  42. Communities for Alternative Food Ecosystems Initiative (CAFEi), Philippines
  43. Community Medicine Development Foundation, Philippines
  44. Confederación Agrosolidaria Colombia
  45. Council for People’s Development and Governance, Philippines
  46. Ducho Nutrition Services, Nigeria
  47. Equipo Comunitario de Ladera por la Promocion de la Vida y la Salud, Colombia
  48. Farmer Affairs Network, Burma
  49. Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal
  50. Federation of Kirant Indigenous Associations Nepal
  51. Food Coalition of Mongolia
  52. Food Security Network (Khani), Bangladesh
  53. Front Mahasiswa Nasional, Indonesia
  54. Gaza Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Platform, Palestine
  55. Global Institute for Youth Development, Philippines
  56. Global Justice Ecology Project, USA
  57. Gwanda Community Economic Justice Development Trust, Zimbabwe
  58. Institute for National and Democracy Studies, Indonesia
  59. Institute for Sustainable Development Strategy, Kyrgyztan
  60. Instituto Politécnico Tomás Katari, Bolivia
  61. Janawaboda Kendraya, Sri Lanka
  62. Kenya Small Scale Farmers Forum
  63. Kerala Agricultural Workers Union (KVVU), India
  64. Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, Philippines
  65. Labour Resource Center, Bangladesh
  66. Land Research Center, Palestine
  67. Magsasaka at Siyentipiko sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura, Philippines
  68. Metta Development Foundation, Myanmar
  69. Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation Inc., Philippines
  70. Moningolig Pogun Tokou, Sabah
  71. Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform, Sri Lanka
  72. National Agricultural Workers Forum, India
  73. Nasyat Network for Biocultural Diversity, Kyrgyztan
  74. National Alliance of Social Security, India
  75. National Centre for Labour, India
  76. National Federation of Sugar Workers, Philippines
  77. National Fisheries Solidarity Movement, Sri Lanka
  78. National Network of Agrarian Reform Advocates – Youth, Philippines
  79. National Women Farmers & Workers Association, Bangladesh
  80. N’gombe Na Mahindi campaign (N’goma campaign), Kenya
  81. Oasis Environmental Management and Healthy Watch, Zambia
  82. Participatory Research Action Network, Bangladesh
  83. Pemuda Baru, Indonesia
  84. Peoples Culture Collective, Sri Lanka
  85. Philippine Network of Food Security Programmes, Philippines
  86. Ponlok Khmer, Cambodia
  87. Public Eye, Switzerland
  88. Rainbow Homes Program-ARUN, India
  89. Real Food Systems, Nepal
  90. Resistance and Alternatives to Globalization, Indonesia
  91. Rural Women’s Assembly, Namibia
  92. Serikat Perempuan, Indonesia
  93. Sibol ng Agham at Teknolohiya, Philippines
  94. Society for Rural Education and Development, India
  95. Society for Wetland Biodiversity Conservation Nepal
  96. Sojhla for Social Change, Pakistan
  97. Struggle to Economize Future Environment, Cameroon
  98. Support for Women in Agriculture and Environment, Uganda
  99. Tamil Nadu Women’s Forum, India
  100. Tenaganita (Women’s Force), Malaysia
  101. Tengala Agricultural Workers Union (TVVU), India
  102. Unión Latinoamericana de Técnicos Rurales y Agrarios, Argentina
  103. Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura, Philippines
  104. Vikalpani Women’s Federation, Sri Lanka
  105. Visura Youth Media Team, Sri Lanka
  106. Witness Radio Organisation, Uganda 
  107. Youth for Change Initiative, Nigeria
  108. Youth Peasants’ Organisation, Nepal
  109. Zambia Social Forum, Zambia

Local:

  1. AGRA City of Kupang, Indonesia
  2. AGRA Province of Banten, Indonesia
  3. AGRA Province of Central Java, Indonesia
  4. AGRA Province of Central Kalimantan, Indonesia
  5. AGRA Province of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia
  6. AGRA Province of East Java, Indonesia
  7. AGRA Province of Lampung, Indonesia
  8. AGRA Province of Riau, Indonesia
  9. AGRA Province of South Sulawesi, Indonesia
  10. AGRA Province of West Java, Indonesia
  11. AGRA Province of West Kalimantan, Indonesia
  12. AGRA Province of West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
  13. AGRA Regency of Bandung, Indonesia
  14. AGRA Regency of Bulukumba, Indonesia
  15. AGRA Regency of Buol, Indonesia
  16. AGRA Regency of Central Lombok, Indonesia
  17. AGRA Regency of Donggala, Indonesia
  18. AGRA Regency of East Lombok, Indonesia
  19. AGRA Regency of Garut, Indonesia
  20. AGRA Regency of Kandis, Indonesia
  21. AGRA Regency of Mesuji, Indonesia
  22. AGRA Regency of Ogan Komeling Ilir, Indonesia
  23. AGRA Regency of Sigi, Indonesia
  24. Cebu Farmers Market, Philippines
  25. Center for Development Programs in the Cordillera, Philippines
  26. Central Visayas Farmers Development Center, Philippines
  27. Community Health Education, Services, and Training in the Cordillera Region, Philippines
  28. Health, Education and Services for the Less Privileged (HELP)-Panay, Inc., Philippines
  29. Katipunan ng mga Samahang Magbubukid sa Timog Katagalugan, Philippines
  30. Samahan ng mga Magbubukid ng Batangas, Philippines
  31. Visayas Primary Healthcare Services, Inc., Philippines

Individuals

  • Julie Ward, co-chairperson of Urban Economy Forum & former member of the European Parliament, UK
  • Narasimha Reddy Donthi, public policy expert, India
  • Hellen Yego, farmer-leader, Kenya
  • Ang Cheatlom, development consultant on land and forest issues and on rights of Indigenous and local communities, Cambodia
  • Juana Vera Delgado, agricultural engineer and expert on sustainable rural development and gender, Netherlands
  • Biswa Mohan, independent development practitioner, India
  • Ruth Kruger, independent researcher working in sustainability science and energy justice, South Africa