besea.n (Britain's East and South East Asian Network)’s Post

Thanks to everyone that came to last week's online speakers corner to carry on the conversations started at the Natoora. We had rich discussions about the role of food #retail, food justice, and #foodsovereignty! Big thank you to Luke Crisp for leading and curating the session, bringing in his experiences from FareShare UK and interests in alternative ways of organising society and #food cultures. Thank you to Giacomo Ranalli for reflections from the London event with Natoora, Hodmedod's British Pulses, Grains & Seeds, and Waitrose & Partners, and to Mitch Green as always for organising. 🏙 We have to work with retailers, supermarkets, as they are a powerful part of the supply chain. However, we must create space for alternatives: #farmersmarkets, direct sales, CSAs, online stores, territorial markets, connecting with growers. 📢 There is ever more consumer demand for communication and #transparency across the supply chain. Large-scale, global retails separates us from understanding food #production and the reality of #farming. There is an opportunity for #education about the source and real labor and love behind the food we eat. 👩🌾 The main challenge is the commodification of food. If we can step behind the convenience mindset and de-commodify food, we can feel more connected to food again and support #farmers with a dignified income through premiums for social and ecological #resilience. ♻ We have many levers of change to pull. #Foodjustice is intersectional with diverse environmental and social aspects that all have to come together for #foodsystem #transformation. #Foodsovereignty is also a global and interconnected movement with diverse meanings in different contexts. These conversations bring consciousness into everyday decision-making (e.g., in the supermarket aisle) to implement small-incremental #changes. As it is changing practices that changes mindsets. This forum gives us all the safe space to speak our minds and gather confidence for when it really matters. 💪🧡 We can’t wait for Speakers’ Corner live at our #EmergentGeneration Summer Gathering in September! 👆✨💚 Join us: https://lnkd.in/eqBfZJrY #youthempowerment #youth #youthvoice #youthaction #emergentgeneration

🌍☕ International Coffee Day 2024: Celebrating Collaboration in Coffee ☕🌍 This year today, we celebrate International Coffee Day 2024 under a theme that resonates deeply with us—Collaboration. At Coffee World Uganda, we believe that it is through strong partnerships, both locally and internationally, that the coffee industry continues to thrive, bringing sustainable impact to our communities and beyond. From working hand-in-hand with our smallholder farmers to improve coffee quality, to forging connections with global partners in the export market, collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. It's through these efforts that Uganda’s rich, bold coffee is shared with the world, while ensuring that every hand involved in the process is empowered and rewarded. Locally, our initiatives focus on capacity building and education, helping farmers adopt sustainable practices, and creating a fairer value chain. Internationally, we’ve joined forces with partners who share our vision for ethical sourcing, environmental sustainability, and market access—ensuring Uganda’s coffee continues to make waves globally. This year’s theme reminds us that we are not just individual players, but a community united by a common love for coffee and a commitment to growth and sustainability. Together, we can create more opportunities, uplift more lives, and raise the bar for excellence in the coffee industry. Let’s continue to work together, cup by cup, to make a difference! ☕💪 Uganda Coffee Development Authority International Coffee Organization International Coffee Partners International Women's Coffee Alliance International Trade Center ( ITC ) Global Coffee Platform Uganda Coffee Federation Specialty Coffee Association Sustainable Coffee Challenge Fairtrade International #InternationalCoffeeDay #Collaboration #CoffeeWorldUganda #UgandaCoffee #SustainableCoffee #GlobalPartnerships #EmpoweringCommunities #EthicalSourcing #InternationalCoffeeDay #CoffeePeople #CoffeeCommunity #FairTradeCoffee #UgandaCoffee #SupportCoffeeFarmers #SustainableCoffee #ICO #IWCA #ITC #SCA

Yesterday, on #WorldFoodDay, I had the opportunity to engage in inspiring conversations about the future of food security and how trade can either help or hinder a fair and sustainable food system. Here are some key takeaways: 🌱 Turning Words into Action: True "Equal Partnerships" To create real change, we must go beyond just talk. It’s about truly listening to the countries the Netherlands engages with—not just the loudest voices or authoritarian leaders, but those often unheard: women, youth, indigenous peoples, and local experts. They hold the knowledge for creating solutions that work for everyone. 🌍 Empowering Local Solutions Farmers themselves in countries such as Bangladesh, Kenya or Bolivia are the true experts when it comes to food security and climate resilience. While new technologies can seem tempting, they often miss the mark by ignoring the power of local knowledge. Strengthening these local innovations, supported by good governance and expertise in social innovation, is key to building sustainable food systems. 🔄 Rethinking Trade for a Just Food System When it comes to international trade and food security, the real question is: What kind of trade system do we need to support the food system we want? Equality in trade relations is crucial, but right now, the playing field is far from level. Tackling these imbalances is essential to create a truly just and sustainable global food system. Let's work together to make these ambitions a reality! 💪 #WorldFoodDay #SustainableFood #FoodSecurity #FairTrade #LocalSolutions #ClimateAction With thanks to Netherlands Food Partnership for organising, Ellen Mangnus and Farid Tabarki for facilitation, Nout van der Vaart and Madelon Meijer for co-organising and all those who joined the discussions: Namukolo Covic Dirk Klaasen Bart De Steenhuijsen Piters Gerben Boom Bram de Jonge Raoul Haegens Dr. Melle Leenstra Hilke Jansen Wilma van Esch Frits (Freerk) van der Wal Ivo Demmers

✨ 2 days exchanging on the effects of the 🌳EUDR in ☕coffee supply chains ✨ This week, CBI - Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries brought together #alumni from previous #coffee programmes in in a warm and sunny Copenhagen to exchange on the topic of the🌳EU Deforestation Regulation #EUDR. 💬 An impressive line-up of speakers, representing different parts of coffee supply chains, shared the effects of the EUDR from their perspectives - in person or in a hybrid setting. 😊 It was an absolute pleasure to moderate the event! To me, having analyzed and worked with the EUDR in the past year, it was very interesting to listen to the different actors and their approaches. 💫 And from the active participation of the participants, I was clearly not the only one – there is a sense of urgency and a need for input and insights in order to know how best to move forward. And while there were differences, some conclusions can be drawn based on the discussions: ⁉There are more questions than answers at this point. EUDR is happening, but lots still need to be clarified. ✅ Certification is not a green lane, but it can be part of the solution. 🤝 Partnerships and cooperation in the value chains becomes increasingly important. 🎉 A big shout out to the people behind the programme and organization of this event Fred Janssen Rafael Valcarce Patrick Gouka and Jerike Waterhout, and of course to all the speakers. And a huge thank you to the participants for making this the interactive and engaging event it was 📷 Photos: Group picture on the sunny terrace right outside our conference room; Gustavo Ferro interacting with the room in one of the successful online presentations; and coffee tasting at the The Coffee Roasting Company Ltd.   #EUDR #coffee #EuropeanGreenDeal #weeklychallengeaccepted

there are concepts that intuitively feel relevant but not always tangible. Alex Rees does a great work giving legs and arms to the concept of #foodsystems #leadership in this Wasafiri blog. Worth a read!

Bringing People Together: How Food Can Fight Xenophobia In Gamm Pito b.v based in the Netherlands, we've learned something important: food can help us understand and accept people from different backgrounds and cultures. Xenophobia, which means being scared or not liking outgroup, often happens because we're afraid of what's different. We make dairy products for different communities in Europe. We know that food is a big part of culture. Each dish has a story and represents the traditions and values of a community. By trying different foods, we can learn about other cultures and be more open-minded. Studies show that people who prefer traditional things and don't like change (conventional or conservative) tend to be supportive for right handed political orientation. they might not be open to new experiences including new foods. We know that conservative political oriented individuals tend to be higher in terms of xenophobia. However it can be influenced by some factors, as food being one of them. By introducing new flavors and foods, we can help people understand and appreciate other cultures. So, let's use food to fight xenophobia. By sharing meals and celebrating diversity, we can create a world where everyone feels welcome and accepted. #FoodForUnity #CulinaryDiversity #BreakingBarriers #CelebratingCulture #CommunityThroughCuisine #EmbracingDiversity #XenophobiaAwareness #CulturalAppreciation #FoodBringsUsTogether #InclusiveEating

Are you interested to learn more about how cities see and shape the future of sustainable food systems that benefit people and the planet? Do you want to discuss with city leaders, representatives from EU institutions, civil society and experts how, over the new madate, EU policy can better support positive change? Then, you should join me and many interesting speakers in the Food Trails Final Conference on 3 October!

Discover the key takeaways from the SIANI annual meeting, which delved deep into the impact of rapid urbanisation on #FoodSystems and innovative solutions for urban and rural development challenges. Key Takeaways: ✅ Prioritising #resilience: Addressing the need for resilient food systems, especially during crises and rapid urbanisation. ✅ #Inclusivity: Emphasising inclusivity to ensure everyone benefits from sustainable and improved food systems. Collaboration is key: 🔑 The meeting highlighted the power of collaboration in driving positive change. By fostering #collaboration, we can turn ideas into actionable projects and make a real impact. 🔗 #Collab4FS: Let's continue to collaborate and work together towards transforming our food systems. Networks play a crucial role in disseminating #knowledge and ideas, bridging gaps, and driving effective change.

Join in the first World Food Forum event #2024WFF. You can register and participate Online. #agrifoodsystems link in the post below

Irish companies are a driving force in food innovation globally, with exports by Irish food and drinks companies supported by Enterprise Ireland worth almost €16bn in 2022. Enterprise Ireland’s second annual Food Innovation Summit, which focused on the role of innovation in driving growth and prosperity in the food and drinks sector brought together over 400 senior leaders of food and drinks companies, innovation experts, policymakers and key stakeholders from the research ecosystem to connect, learn and understand the importance of food and drink innovation in an increasingly competitive global market. Learn more Irish Independent: https://rebrand.ly/FIS-24