Over the past two decades, the concept of “Food Sovereignty” has been mentioned more and more and has become an important content in international discussions related to the development and food security.
Food sovereignty is defined as “the right of people and communities to healthy and culturally appropriate product, grown or produced by methods that are ecologically appropriate and sustainable.” and the right to decide to build their food and agricultural systems.”[1] Food sovereignty, in other words, is an approach that emphasizes the autonomy of farmers in deciding what to apply. use whichever farming system best suits their cultural, ecological, capabilities, and needs.
However, in Vietnam, food sovereignty is still a new concept, little known and not yet used in executive documents or programs and policies of the State.
In Vietnam, ethnic minority communities in mountainous areas, which mainly depend on agricultural production, have many unique characteristics in terms of culture, ecological environment, and specific production conditions of mountainous areas such as low and sloping productive land, lack of water, severe weather and climate, etc. The acquisition of appropriate agricultural/cultivation production models (in terms of scale, capabilities, qualifications, and expectations) desire of ethnic minority farmers) to ensure food security or their livelihood is an important requirement that should be considered, instead of applying on a large scale according to the model of commodity crop production according to tastes and preferences market, requires participants with new qualifications/knowledge, high technology application, large investment capital, and supply chain dependence.
In addition, in the context that Vietnam is increasingly participating in the world economy, food sovereignty for ethnic minorities is becoming more and more important. Through more than 10 signed and negotiated Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), multinational corporations in the fields of agriculture and biology will deeply participate in Vietnam’s agricultural economy, creating multi-dimensional socio-economic impact.
To create a forum for interested parties to share views and discuss food sovereignty and agricultural production efficiency of ethnic minority farmers, the Center for Agricultural Research and Ecological studies (under the Vietnam National University of Agriculture) organized a scientific seminar: “Food sovereignty and ethnic minority farmers in Vietnam: Concepts, policies, and practices.” This is an activity sponsored by the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation (RLS).
Purpose of the Talk:
- Create an academic forum for scholars, scientists, and managers in related fields to share and discuss issues of sustainable agricultural and rural development, livelihood security, sovereignty, and food security for ethnic minorities in Vietnam today;
- Provide policy recommendations for sustainable agricultural and rural development and promotion of sustainable livelihoods in general, and food security and sovereignty for ethnic minorities in particular;
- Discuss policy research ideas to ensure sovereignty and food security, and sustainable development for ethnic minorities.
Time and format: The talk is expected to take place on November 30, 2010, in the form of face-to-face and online.
Discussion topics:
- Where is food sovereignty in the legal framework in Vietnam?
- The relationship between food sovereignty and food security
- Market-oriented agricultural development policy and issues with ethnic minorities
- Advantages and risks (lessons) of the ongoing large-scale, market-oriented, value-chain agricultural production models with ethnic minorities
- Agricultural production models, sustainable livelihoods, suitable for ethnic minorities
Policy recommendations on food sovereignty in Vietnam
Information on registration and submission of papers:
- Last date to register for discussion topics: 11/19
- Submission deadline: 11/25
- Address for submission of presentations: Nguyen Minh Duc (Tel: 0902181059 | Email: nmduc@vnua.edu.vn)
View details and download invitations here.
Tiếng Việt