The National policy dialogue on a just transition and adaptation in the food system took place in Ekurhuleni, from 20-22 September.
Organisations representing the labour movement, smallholder farmers, farm workers, labour tenants, informal traders, waste reclaimers, food and land justice organisations, civil society, and policymakers came together to discuss building a coordinated understanding and policy approach to a just transition in the South African food system across sectors.
It was hosted by the Alliance for Rural Advancement (AFRA), Biowatch South Africa, Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ), African Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), LandNNES, Tshintsha Amakhaya, Climate Champions for Adaptation, Adaptation Network, Environmental Monitoring Group, and the National Labour and Economic Development Institute (NALEDI). For more information on the dialogue, please click here.
In the lead up to the dialogue a series of six fact sheets highlighting some of the key issues were produced, in English, Afrikaans, isiZulu, isiXhosa and Sepedi. There are two versions of each, a pdf for web and a pdf for mobile phones. These can be downloaded below.
Fact sheet 1: Towards a just transition
Download mobile-friendly versions of fact sheet 1 here: English, Afrikaans, Sepedi, Xhosa, Zulu.
Fact sheet 2: Need for a just transition in SA’s food system
Download mobile-friendly versions of fact sheet 2 here: English, Afrikaans, Sepedi, Xhosa, Zulu.
Fact sheet 3: Climate change emissions in the food system
Download mobile-friendly versions of fact sheet 3 here: English, Afrikaans, Sepedi, Xhosa, Zulu.
Fact sheet 4: Impacts of climate change on the food system
Download mobile-friendly versions of fact sheet 4 here: English, Afrikaans, Sepedi, Xhosa, Zulu.
Fact sheet 5: Overview of the agriculture CCAMP
Download mobile-friendly versions of fact sheet 5 here: English, Afrikaans, Sepedi, Xhosa, Zulu.
Fact sheet 6: Towards a just and climate-resilient food system
Download mobile-friendly versions of fact sheet 6 here: English, Afrikaans, Sepedi, Xhosa, Zulu.
More information on the dialogue
Climate change, biodiversity loss, water insecurity, landlessness, hunger and malnutrition are some of the intersecting elements of this multidimensional crisis of capitalism which compound and exacerbate each other. Yet, despite some recognition of the interlinked crises, government responses remain siloed. There are challenges with lack of coordination and integration of policies. Agriculture cannot be treated in isolation; it is part of the wider food system and is part of landscapes and ecosystems.
Participants recognised the importance of contesting corporate and elite power in defining the character of the transition and solutions to the crises. They affirmed the realisation of the Right to food as a core measure of the success of the food system, where food is a basic necessity that should be excluded from the profit motive.
In this context, we need a just transition agenda for the food system, that is reflected in the work of civil society and in government policy. There was strong support for promoting and enacting alternative approaches to the food system to build the local economy based on agroecology and food sovereignty. This includes rapid redistribution and democratic control of productive resources, production choices and decision-making for food, nutrition and water security.
In this sense, the event is a significant step in bringing such a breadth of sectors together to work towards a shared agenda on transition in the food system that aims at climate change adaptation and mitigation, from the starting point of rights and justice. We, therefore, welcome the attendance of officials and policymakers from the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development and the Presidential Climate Commission to share, discuss, and debate on the future direction of the South African food system.
Participants committed to continue working together following the dialogue and connecting with wider networks to advance a common agenda. For more information, please see the concept note here and the programme here. Presentations can be made available on request.
For more information, click here for the concept note and here for the pre-dialogue consultations synthesis report. Please contact comms@acbio.org.za with any queries.
