On the occasion of the lessons on food governance, the students of the Master in Food Studies had the benefit of a presentation and discussion with Dr Paola Termine, Economist, currently working as a consultant for the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS).
This gave students the opportunity to review the mission, functions and mode of governance of the CFS, a most democratic and inclusive Committee that includes all U.N. agencies, governments, financial institutions, philanthropic foundations and research institutions. In addition, the CFS includes constituencies of people’s organizations through a Civil Society Mechanism and private sector businesses operating in the food industry through the Private Sector Mechanism. When Dr. Termine presented the High-Level Panel of Experts, the students were able to relate to their work, having read parts of their policy convergence reports and having participated in CFS sessions last October.
Dr Termine concluded the session with information on the preparations for the UN Food Systems Summit convened by the U.N. in 2021. A call for engagement has been launched by the Civil Society Mechanism of the CFS to protect food sovereignty, defend food as a fundamental human right, work together towards economic, social and climate justice. Students were invited to take part in the many initiatives that are taking place in preparation of the Summit, an invitation they accepted with enthusiasm.
