The young generation of the organic movement gathered at FiBL in Frick last week and spent two days discussing sustainability in the food system. It became clear that the organic sector and its actors have an important role and are a vital component of a future food system.
The panel on the first day showed that our future food system should include the following aspects: greater appreciation for food, fairer remuneration within the value chain and environmentally friendly food production. This requires social, economic and political innovations, but also consumer education.
Rob Hopkins, co-founder of the Transition Network, gave an inspiring talk on how climate change makes it imperative to rediscover our imagination and think boldly. Furthermore, young entrepreneurs, farmers and activists from all over Europe shared their own experiences of their work for seminal sustainable food systems. Again, it became clear that a well-connected community is central to driving change in the long run. Philosopher Joe Slater discussed with the audience the moral obligation to support sustainable agriculture and ETH Professor Johanna Jacobi showed encouraging examples of agro-ecological change from around the world.
In discussion groups, participants exchanged their views on topics they had brought up themselves. Among other things, participants discussed how organic food can be made accessible to all, how the Ukrainian organic sector can be supported during the war and shared their experiences with gender discrimination in agriculture.
The Organics Europe Youth Event encouraged participants to look critically at the current food system, think big and network. The event was jointly organised by IFOAM Organics Europe, FiBL Switzerland and Bio Suisse.