Food Sovereignty was first proposed by the International Peasant movement La Via Campesina in 1996. It has grown to encompass a critique of neoliberal politics which provides an entirely different framework for organizing food and agricultural policies internationally, regionally and locally. The framework was further reinforced by the Nyeleni Forum in Mali in 2007.
In Europe, peasant farmer's organizations who are members of Via Campesina call for Food Sovereignty and for Europe's Common Agricultural Policy to be changed to adopt the Food Sovereignty framework.
Environmental, social justice, trade and development organizations also joined the call for Food Sovereignty in Europe and worldwide.
In recent years, the growth in collective land struggles, consumer-producer networks, community supported agriculture and other initiatives which are putting Food Sovereignty into practice at a local level have emerged.
Some of these different groups and organizations have already established links and networks – and many of them are involved in this Forum. The "FoodSovCAP" network is one example of this.
We want to strengthen these movements, and strengthen the work we do locally, regionally or nationally through supporting and complementing the work of others. Together, we are stronger.
The movment for Food Sovereignty in Europe should also reflect the changes we want in society – and so we see it being based around key values – trust, transparency and participation.
The Nyeleni Europe Forum is a first step – a catalyst for reinforcing our collective objectives, and for helping us to move forward – please, get in contact, and get involved!