By Lexi Tassone, Alliance Intern from Rutgers University ‘26
Most discussions surrounding people’s access to food have been about food security, or making sure a population has enough access to affordable and nutritious food. But is food security enough? Food sovereignty is defined by Via Campesina as the right to healthy and culturally appropriate foods, produced sustainably through systems defined by the consumer, and could help support traditional agriculture and foods. Food sovereignty is a response the Green Revolution’s failure to feed the 40% of the world left hungry.
The goal of food sovereignty is for people to have autonomy over what they eat. For example, a population could produce their own food, or to buy from small, local farms. An emphasis is put on building the relationship between producers and consumers. Under food sovereignty people are able to shape the food systems they participate in. The active participation from consumers separates food sovereignty from food security, and makes it more sustainable.
Sovereignty vs. Agribusiness
Food sovereignty is especially important in a world where our food systems are increasingly globalized. While some of us benefit from access to endless options for foods sourced from industrial agriculture around the world, these foods are often non-organic and produced using hazardous pesticides and synthetic fertilizers that harm people and the environment.
Between industrialized agriculture and overseas transportation, our current agricultural system is a top producer of greenhouse gasses worldwide. Not to mention, the entire industry is run by a small group of extremely powerful multinational corporations. The way we eat today is not at all sustainable, especially compared to eating locally grown foods and supporting smaller farms.
Food sovereignty is also a viable method of achieving food security. Despite rapid advances in technology, nearly a third of the global population remains food insecure, according to the World Health Organization. Clearly, our food systems are failing. This isn’t a surprising fact to many, as they are ruled by profit, not ensuring that all people have access to food. Local sources of food, such as family farms and community gardens, can help fill in the gaps that agribusinesses have left behind, especially in rural and indigenous communities.
Achieving Food Sovereignty
That being said, food sovereignty is an out-of-reach ideal for most, highlighting issues with our current agriculture and food system. Successful food sovereignty movements usually connect small farmers’ groups, local governments and public institutions like schools and hospitals. This allows local governments to act in the interest of their constituents to support sustainable livelihoods. Many communities lack this organization, or no longer have access to their own land as a result of the expansion of industrial agriculture or urbanization.
The fight for food sovereignty is therefore tied to fights for decolonization and land back movements, especially for Indigenous groups. One notable sovereignty group is the Indigenous Food Network. Based in Minneapolis, this project is a collaboration between various Native community groups with the goal of rebuilding sovereign food systems. One of their notable projects is the Indigenous Food Share, which provides Native families with harvest baskets of produce for a sliding price scale in order to maximize access to this food. All of their produce is grown organically.
The host organization, Dream of Wild Health, also offers youth leadership programs that teach sustainable, regenerative, and Indigenous agriculture. Both the provision of food to the community and the spreading of knowledge help achieve the Network’s goal of increasing sovereignty over the food system in the area. Food sovereignty is one method of achieving food security and preserving important cultural practices. Local grassroots movements and organizations become increasingly important as our food system continues to globalize, neglecting those most at risk of food insecurity.
Food sovereignty also challenges the culture of food production and consumption that I have experienced in my own community. Despite there being plenty of room in the suburbs for people to experiment with growing their own food, I’ve seen few examples of people gardening. That may be in part due to the need for organizing a community garden.
I think learning about what food sovereignty is and why it’s important can be a first step into thinking about the sustainability of our food. We can all be more purposeful in how we choose to eat.