On the occasion of 43rd World Food Day 2023 Round Table Discussion On Climate Crisis And Food Sovereignty

Date: 13th October 2023
Venue: Hotel Le Himalaya, Lazimpat

Introduction
On the occasion of World Food Day Digo Bikash Institute (DBI), Food First Information Network (FIAN) Nepal, Alliance of Agriculture for Food (AoAF), Right to Food Network (RtFN), and National Farmers Group Federation (NFGF) organised a “Round Table Discussion on Climate Crisis and Food Sovereignty” on the occasion of 43rd World Food Day-2023. World Food Day is an annual global observance that aims to raise awareness and take action against worldwide hunger, malnutrition, food crisis and insecurity.  This program aims to have a policy discussion on climate induced food crisis and food sovereignty in Nepal. World Food Day is widely celebrated by many organisations concerned with hunger and food security. It also highlights the importance of sustainable agriculture and food production to address global food challenges.

Climate Change and Food Sovereignty
As we all know that climate change is the change in temperature, weather patterns. Climate change has a broad range of effects on the earth. Global warming is also the cause of climate change. The main factor of climate change is the human activities that are affecting the mother earth to warm by increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Climate change is causing a range of increasing impacts on the environment. Deserts are expanding and heat waves are becoming more common than before.
Climate change not only affects the earth but it also affects the people living on the earth. Climate change has a huge impact on food as well. Because of climate change and food insecurity there has been the loss of species. Climate change has also caused natural disasters. Climate change threatens people with water scarcity, health risks, food crisis, and economic loss. This can affect the present and future situation of every living being on the planet. The changes in temperatures are increasing rapidly day by day. There have been water crisis as well. And many people are suffering from poverty and displacement.
Food Sovereignty is the right of people to healthy and nutritious food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods and their right to define their own food and agricultural system. It is also the way that is defined as the people’s rights to the food system and producing sufficient and healthy food in an ecological sustainable way neartes their territory. Food insecurity has also affected the indigenous community. Many Indigenous communities concerned about food insecurity, growing rates of diet-related disease, and food crisis in mainstream food systems, are actively working to restore their food systems through a food sovereignty approach as it is the right of every people for the healthy and appropriated food.

What is the need to control the climate crisis and food sovereignty?
The need to control the climate crisis and food sovereignty are as follows:

• Policy Development
• Agriculture sector should be prioritise
• Solution for climate change
• Production, Supplies chains, Farm technologies
• Wrong solution should be dismissed

Conclusion
According to the round table discussion these were the conclusion of the climate crisis and food sovereignty:

• Agricultural practice should be implemented
• Land should be given back to farmers
• Public awareness about climate change and food sovereignty
• Implementation of plans and policies
• Afforestation
• Knowledge and empowerment
• Proper environment should be created
• Forget the false solutions and focus on what works
• New concept of agriculture and food production should be researched
• Every school and college should get an education about food security, crisis, and climate change.
• Food Safety