Food Rights

Close to six decades have passed since Kenya gained her independence. Perhaps this is a reason for celebration, but not in the realm of food and nutrition. Millions of Kenyans are still stretching begging bowls each year for relief food and not to forget the cost of food which has skyrocketed making affordability out of reach for many especially in the urban areas.

Food is a crucial subject the world over. All aspects of how we produce, process, distribute and access food is increasingly coming under sharp, serious scrutiny. This is partly due to the universal understanding of food as a basic right – necessary for life rather than a commodity we trade, invent, re-invent and innovate with little consideration of the implications that has on access, safety and quality. Various discussions have been brought to the table, mainly trying to figure out the best approach to our food and farming systems and what approach gives a better chance to end hunger and malnutrition; now and in the days to come.

According to FAO, pollinators such as bees, birds and bats, affect 35 percent of the world's crop production, increasing outputs of 87 of the leading food crops worldwide, plus many plant-derived medicines. Talking about harmful pesticides in our commonly consumed foods then becomes a complex matter to address to the public.

Read more on the Route to Food Initiative, a project of the Heinrich Boell Foundation.

Using food as a political tool especially around election year needs urgent attention.

“A fundamental cornerstone of a strong local food system is the food literacy of consumers.”- Ontario Apple Growers.

Hunger now more than ever seems to result from structural inefficiencies leading to limited access to food, climate change, poverty, and inequalities. Few individuals who dictate technologies, choices, quality, and quantities in food systems and prices undermine progression.

Adequate food, as envisioned in the right, should be achieved not only in quantity but also in quality. There is an unrivalled need to sustainably produce adequate quantities of food that is safe and nutritious for everyone at all times.

What Ails Kenya’s Food System? A Policy Perspective

Agroecology has established itself as a concept opposed to industrial agriculture - also because it always takes society and power structures into account: It provides the framework for equal rights for women in agriculture.