This map is the fruit of a collective reflection and learning process that focuses on food sovereignty as a political approach for transforming our land. We see food as a right and a driver of change. Based on that belief, we believe in promoting a fairer social and environmental system that is more sustainable and places life at the heart of the debate.
We also understand that land and focusing on the local as a means to offer alternatives that guarantee this right. More autonomy is food at a local level, this is where we can focus on agro-eating systems and adapt accordingly. We can strengthen relations and collectives. We believe that we need to go back the local. We need to kick-start alternative practices. We need to build collective public policies that promote food sovereignty as well as other forms of sovereignty that give way to other ways of living.
How have we done it?
We set up this site in order to establish a common and living document in which all experiences that promote food sovereignty and other necessary aspects that ensure its practice can be gathered.
We begin with screening a documentary Bide Berriak: Food Sovereignty in Euskal Herria showcasing the sharing of practical experiences of food sovereignty. We reflect the framing behind the process as put forward in Sovereignty for different ways of life in Euskal Herria and gather key methods and tools from Euskal Herria’s experience.
We also ran an international seminar on local public policies on Food Sovereignty Feeding Public Policies. Furthermore, we also took part in the Nyéléni European Forum in Romania. Both events exposed us to a vast array of local experiences in Europe which we can learn from and to people with whom we can share information. This is all to be included on the map.
Why and for who?
This map is aimed at any person, collective or administration that would like to share experiences that promote food sovereignty but also to those willing to get to know more about it, be inspired by it, exchange ideas or to build alliance networks based on it.
To help with the classifying of experiences we use certain criteria. We look at the specific sector (SOVEREIGNTY), what you are doing (TOOLS), who is promoting what (WHO), and also WHERE all this is being carried out.
In order for this map to remain collective, and importantly, active, we need everyone to get involved. You can upload all the different kinds of experiences that you have come into contact with on the tab PARTICIPATE. Get in touch with people who inspire you who can help you going forward. Inform us of any errors or contact us to carry out any particular modifications if necessary.
We hope to see you on the map!
Who are we?
Bizilur (Association for development and cooperation) are of the belief that all causes of poverty and inequality in both the north and south are a result of our neoliberal patriarchal society. Our goal therefore is to challenge such systems and the negative effects that they cause, especially in rural areas, when developing alternative development strategies. We consider the peasant’s route based on Food Sovereignty as key to building new social structures. Basing ourselves on this belief, we then work in alliance with movements and grassroot collectives across the board in all territories.
The Etxalde-Nekazaritza movement was formed by female grassroot actors and is open to all those who work in agriculture. Its main objective is the implementation of food sovereignty in Euskal Herria through agrarian practice. It also seeks to foster strategic alliances with social movements and trade unionists so as to encourage food sovereignty both locally and internationally.
EHNE-Bizkaia (Euskal Herriko Nekaza- rien Elkartasuna) es un sindicato agrario, que tiene como principal objetivo impulsar la soberanía ali- mentaria en el conjunto de Euskal Herria. Para ello cuenta con diferentes áreas y líneas de trabajo, destacando entre otras, el asesoramiento, la formación, el acompañamiento a los procesos de instalación en el sector y la promoción de grupos de consumo-Nekasarea. Es miembro de La Vía Campesina.