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Food and Public Policy

© Bob Ewing

Greetings, in this time of glaring contrasts between feast and famine, we need to stop and take a moment to consider how fundamental our agriculture system is in defining who we are and what we do as a society.

How we move food, from the field where it is grown to your kitchen, where it is eaten defines our society. Our socio-economic relationships are established by how we, as a society, process and produce food.

This week we begin our exploration of the policies and practises which inform our current food production system. In past articles I have discussed the United nation's Universal Declartion of Human Rights Bill of Rights (1948), this week we look at:

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Article 11

1. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions. The States Parties will take appropriate steps to ensure the realization of this right, recognizing to this effect the essential importance of international co-operation based on free consent.

2. The States Parties to the present Covenant, recognizing the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger, shall take, individually and through international co-operation, the measures, including specific programmes, which are needed: (a) To improve methods of production, conservation and distribution of food by making full use of technical and scientific knowledge, by disseminating knowledge of the principles of nutrition and by developing or reforming agrarian systems in such a way as to achieve the most efficient development and utilization of natural resources;

(b) Taking into account the problems of both food-importing and food-exporting countries, to ensure an equitable distribution of world food supplies in relation to need.

From :

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16 December 1966

entry into force 3 January 1976, in accordance with article 27

http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/a_cesc...

The Food Charter

The following text from the preamble of the City of Greater Sudbury Food Charter introduces the food charter concept.

City of Greater Sudbury Food Charter VS 20, Draft - May 1, 2004

Given that access to safe, affordable, nutritious food is a basic human right of individuals and communities, and connects us to our families, our cultures, and our traditions;

And that community food security is a comprehensive approach that includes all components of the food system, from producers to consumers, and promotes regional food self-reliance;