Brussels, 14/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - On 10 June, 333 European, national and local organisations from 27 European countries signed a declaration calling for “a healthy, sustainable, fair and mutually supportive common agriculture and food policy” to be put in place after 2013 (http://www.europeanfooddeclaration.org ).
After more than a half-century of industrialisation of agriculture and food production, sustainable family farming and local food cultures have been substantially reduced in Europe, says the declaration signed inter alia by European organisations European Coordination Via Campesina, Friends of the Earth Europe, Greenpeace Europe, Eurogroup for Animals and IFOAM EU Group.
Today, “our food system is dependent on under-priced fossil fuels, does not recognise the limitations of water and land resources, and supports unhealthy diets high in calories, fat and salt, and low in fruit, vegetables and grains,” the declaration goes on. It argues for a “completely different approach” to food and agriculture policies and practices and calls on the EU to recognise and support “the crucial role of sustainable family farming in the food supply of the population”. After decades of the domination by transnational corporations and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in determining food and agriculture policy, “it is time for people in Europe to re-appropriate agriculture and food policy: it is time for food sovereignty,” the organisations state.
They say that the new common food and agriculture policy should: - consider food as a universal human right, not merely a commodity; - give priority to growing food and feed for Europe and to changing international trade in agricultural products according to principles of equity, social justice and ecological sustainability; - promote healthy eating patterns, moving towards plant-based diets and towards a reduced consumption of meat, energy-dense and highly processed foods, and saturated fats, while respecting the regional cultural dietary habits and traditions; - give priority to maintaining an agriculture all over Europe that involves numerous farmers producing food and caring for the countryside (for this, fair and secure farm prices are required); - ensure fair, non-discriminatory conditions for farmers and agricultural workers in Central and Eastern Europe, and promote a fair and equitable access to land; - respect the local and global environment, protect the finite resources of soil and water, increase biodiversity and respect animal welfare; - guarantee that agriculture and food production remain free from GMOs and foster farmers' seeds and the diversity of domestic livestock species, building on local knowledge; - stop promoting the use and the production of industrial agri-fuels and give priority to the reduction of transport in general; - ensure transparency along the food chain so that citizens know how their food is produced, where it comes from, what it contains and what is included in the price paid by consumers; - reduce the concentration of power in the agricultural, food processing and retail sectors and their influence on what is produced and consumed, and promote food systems that shorten the distance between farmers and consumers; - encourage the production and consumption of local, seasonal, high quality products reconnecting citizens with their food and food producers; - devote resources to teaching children the skills and knowledge required to produce, prepare, and enjoy healthy, nutritious food. (L.C./transl.rt)