On 31 March, 2023, Dr Titilayo Adebola delivered a paper on the “Global Governance of Food” at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Her paper set out the current landscape for the global governance of food and proposed transformations through the creation of a food architecture that CARES. This means constructing food systems that are contextually appropriate, resilient, equitable and sustainable. In her presentation, she sought to answer two central questions: what are the challenges we confront in our food systems? How do we address these challenges in ways that are contextually appropriate and that enhance resilient and sustainable food systems?
The multi-faceted and multi-layered threats to our food systems include conflicts/wars, climate extremes, socio-economic downturns, colonial disruptions/ continuities, neoliberal trade policies, corporate capture of decision making, corporate and commodity-focused global supply chains, health emergencies and new/emerging technologies. These threats are entrenched throughout our food systems from production to consumption.
