Food Sovereignty

Food sovereignty is defined as the right of communities and nations to control their own food and agricultural systems. This concept was initially developed by an international coalition of peasant, farmer, women’s, indigenous, and fisher-folk social movements called La Vía Campesina, or the Peasant Way. It has since been used as a framework to advocate for more sustainable and socially just food policies in international and local contexts. Food sovereignty is now enshrined as a constitutional right in several countries, including Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Nepal, Mali, and Senegal. This entry summarizes the origins and evolution of the food sovereignty framework and describes several of its key pillars. It concludes by discussing the application of food sovereignty principles to several food policy issues, including public food ...