Conversations on food systems tend to frame the interests of various stakeholders against each other. So how can we fundamentally transcend the notion of conflicting interests as we work to transform food systems?

This question was central to a roundtable discussion hosted last month by the Baha'i International Community (BIC) in Brussels. The discussion explored how to build on the intrinsic connections that bind the needs of one group—whether farmers, consumers, or food distributors—to those of another.

Joined by various civil society organizations, including farming and environmental representatives, and academia, the discussion explored various themes, from reconciling certain dichotomies associated with farmer interests and climate change, to overcoming the view that various groups are adversaries with opposing interests. 

The aim of the BIC’s food systems roundtables, said Chloe Jamali, from the Baha’i International Community, is to “move beyond the usual conception of agri-food transitions as pitting stakeholders against each other,” and instead to highlight the importance of communities, institutions and other actors working together “without any dichotomies.”

Much of the discussion explored the imperative of moving beyond the often-polarizing debate associated with environmental conservation goals and the practical realities of farming. Participants at the meeting recognized that, rather than being in opposition, these goals are inherently interconnected. The importance of shifting the narrative, from viewing agricultural practices as mere contributors to climate change to seeing their potential in restoring rural landscapes was also shared.

"How can we work with agriculture as part of the solution to climatic changes?" said Natascha Schwarzkopf, from the European Alliance for Regenerative Agriculture—a farmer-led organization promoting regenerative agriculture across Europe.

In overcoming the view that various groups are conflicting or contradictory, Fabio Volkmann, research project manager at Climate Farmers—an organization building infrastructure to scale regenerative agriculture in Europe—said there is a “need for us in the agri-food system to come together and collaborate on the transformation.”

Ms. Schwarzkopf said that policies should “step away from prescribing people what to do” and instead focus on “describing the outcome we want to achieve altogether.” 

Creating “a narrative in a world as we currently experience, with a lot of turbulence, with a lot of changes, with a lot of insecurity, will give people something to unite towards and to really have a shared vision to work towards,” she added.

Another theme that emerged was the importance of overcoming the idea of conflicting interests among various regions of the world. In this light, Mujahid Rasool, from COLEAD Link—an organization supporting the agricultural sector in meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals—said, “We need a bigger vision [for the future of agriculture] as a global world… because we are not working for a European-only food system, but a global food system.”

A future roundtable taking place in March will focus on how deliberations and decisions on food and agriculture made at the European level can be increasingly informed by an understanding and appreciation of the broader global context.