“We need to look beyond hunger,” said Cindy Holleman, senior economist at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
In acknowledgement of the current state of world food access, economist Cindy Holleman of the FOA commented to Reuters that if we are to bring lasting resolve to the food access crisis that exists throughout the world including the EU and the US as well, we must broaden the focus to include the entire food system. I would offer that we must factor the foodway of the people to expand the foundation to a more comprehensive approach to the United Nation's current crisis of hunger and food access. Slow Food values can serve as an additional avenue to raise consciousness for education and advocation of good, clean and fair foods. I believe food should also be nutritious and accessible for folk everywhere.
The UN position to focus beyond hunger is advanced when food production is based locally. I believe we must encourage communities to produce and consume foods and food products that originate from their regions. Local economies should begin the food stream with accessibility to its citizens and businesses first prior to broader distribution.
Slow Food, the UN and you now face a powerful opportunity at this moment of uncertainty for the future of our planet and the impacts of our food system. Collectively, if we are to succeed, we must help ignite the need for immediacy of actions that positively effect our bioecology of which food security must be integral.
Tenets of the Slow Food USA Cooks' Alliance (SFUSACA) initiatives includes promoting local gastronomic traditions and artisanal production products, ways and means while raising awareness about the need for all folk, including chefs and influencers, to make sustainable choices. As a member of the SFUSACA, and to my personal view, tying the UN's effort to feed the planet with intersecting goals of Slow Food may strengthen opportunity for success to the common aspirations to level (if not reverse) deleterious impacts the human foodway imposed. I am hopeful for a future where local foodway drives the will of its people resulting in a more balanced ecosystem.
Jose Graziano da Silva told Reuters , that beyond hunger, we must consider the impacts of the entire system.
“We are not looking at the distribution, the markets, the behaviour of the people, the culture of the people.”
I agree that we all must do our part to look at the entire system to identify the root causes for food insecurity and access and it begins with an emphasis on source to consumer.
Hey friend, not a professional cook? The focus of these organizations is on you - citizen and consumer. That said, what can you do beyond buying local? Get involved with your community by voicing your desire to buy, cook and support your neighbors and regional providers. Start with your grocer by telling them what you want and expect with respect to local products. Take a few minutes each year to write a few sentences to that effect to your local, state and national representatives. One note from you serves to amplify the matter in no other more powerful way. Buying local demonstrates your vote and drives decisions by friends, vendors and businesses to support your local foodway. If you'd like to get involved, consider joining Slow Food USA. Your local convivia offers programs for you, family and friends that, with your voice, can influence change.
Resources:
Local foods:
Local products in your area specific to the Slow Food's Ark of Taste where your purchase serves to maintain your local foodway:
- *Please note that this is third party Wikipedia's list in spreadsheet form: Wikipedia Slow Food Ark of Taste spreadsheet and general information.
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