At the first global forum on food sovereignty in Mali in 2007, it was defined as "the right of peoples to healthy and culturally-appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems." Local and indigenous groups around the world have formed grassroots movements to demand control over their food systems. Many are fighting off decades or centuries of cultural oppression to return to traditional agricultural practices. Their hope is to return their communities, lands and bodies to health, while building their cultures' strength and resilience.
This collection of stories (see below) shows global examples of the fight for food sovereignty. In Zimbabwe, farmers are relying on seed banks to fight climate change. In Honduras, an all-female cooperative is revitalizing indigenous agroforestry techniques to take control of their food production. In Kenya, women are also leading the movement towards traditional farming methods and native crops. In the United States, Native American tribes in Louisiana, Hawaii and Montana are moving back towards their traditional diets. Respecting generations of knowledge can help communities such as these restore their health, food independence and resiliency against climate change.