Climate change, biodiversity loss, water insecurity, landlessness, hunger and malnutrition are some of the intersecting elements of this multidimensional crisis of capitalism which compound and exacerbate each other. Yet, despite some recognition of the interlinked crises, government responses remain siloed. There are challenges with lack of coordination and integration of policies. Agriculture cannot be treated in isolation; it is part of the wider food system and is part of landscapes and ecosystems.

Organisations representing the labour movement, small-scale food producers, farm workers, labour tenants, informal traders, waste reclaimers, food and land justice organisations, civil society, and policymakers came together to discuss building a coordinated understanding and policy approach to a just transition in the South African food system across sectors.

Participants recognised the importance of contesting corporate and elite power in defining the character of the transition and solutions to the crises. They affirmed the realisation of the Right to food as a core measure of the success of the food system, where food is a basic necessity that should be excluded from the profit motive.

A just transition agenda for the food system is needed. This includes among other things rapid redistribution and democratic control of productive resources, production choices and decision-making for food, nutrition and water security.

In the lead-up to the dialogue a series of six factsheets highlighting some of the key issues for a just transformation were produced:

• Fact sheet 1: Towards a just transition^‍
• Fact sheet 2: Need for a just transition in SA’s food system
• Fact sheet 3: Climate change emissions in the food system
• Fact sheet 4: Impacts of climate change on the food system
• Fact sheet 5: Overview of the agriculture CCAMP  
• Fact sheet 6: Towards a just and climate-resilient food system

The dialogue was hosted and the factsheets were produced by the Alliance for Rural Advancement (AFRA), Biowatch South Africa, Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ), African Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), LandNNES, Tshintsha Amakhaya, Climate Champions for Adaptation, Adaptation Network, Environmental Monitoring Group, and the National Labour and Economic Development Institute (NALEDI) and funded by Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung Southern Africa. For more information on the dialogue, please click here. Please contact comms@acbio.org.za with any queries.

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