Mennonite
Central
Committee

Summary of Main Learnings

The consultation began and ended with theological reflections by Cathy Campbell, an Anglican priest and food security expert from Winnipeg, MB. Cathy emphasized that there is a profound theological dimension to the issue of food. Christians are called to critique the injustice of the current system and to sow the seeds for a transformed system. Key resources that they bring to the task are: 1) biblical understandings of "periodic equalization" (sabbath, jubilee, etc.), 2) God's alternate manna-based food policy (which prohibits greed and ensures enough for all), 3) an understanding of the natural limits of creation, 4) a call to practice gratitude and radical generosity.

Within the consultation there was recognition that the benefits of economic globalization on food production have been unevenly distributed. Those benefits rarely, if ever, go to individual farm families who struggle to stay alive in a world increasingly dominated by a few corporations. Food is not valued highly, farmers receive very little for what they produce, and corporations control food production, processing and marketing. This has meant devastating changes for farmers, for farm communities and for the environment. Of the N.A. farmers that spoke, some were obviously trying to survive within the system; others were opting out. All farmers were concerned with the current direction.

The urban poor and migrant workers are also among the losers of the global food system. There is an abundance of food, but urban poor people have difficulty accessing good healthful food. In as much as food banks are intended to address this issue, they also support a system which delivers excess to some and deprivation to others. Migrant workers pay a huge price in terms of loss of family life, education, and other opportunities.

There were two international speakers (a 3rd speaker from Latin America was not able to be there.) Derek D'Silva spoke about small farmers in Bangladesh. He said that globalization had been helpful to this population, especially because the corporations are better than the corrupt Bangladesh government. But he also defined globalization as "interconnectedness" (which is different than the notion of corporate globalization or unregulated globalization, which others referred to) and said that the poverty of poor farmers in Bangladesh forced them to make choices (like using biotech seeds) which only postpones death. Gideon Mutiso from Kenya did not speak as much about agriculture, but about a community economic development initiative involving the construction of sand dams. He was more critical of economic globalization. He insisted that local people be involved in determining and shaping their economic future.

There was debate about whether more trade in food is the answer to global poverty alleviation. Economist Henry Rempel argued that food should be brought fully under the WTO, so that subsidies to American farmers and dumping of food into southern nations would stop. Others took issue with the notion of trade being the answer, arguing that the weakest of the world's farmers will not benefit. Prof. Mutiso called trade an international "mantra for deepening exploitation of the poor." Marg Rempel noted that the notion of a level playing field was a myth. In the end the consultation affirmed the notion that both domestic and international food policies should permit priority to local production for local consumption. It was also agreed that international agricultural trade policies should ensure stable fair exchange that provides sustainable livelihoods for those involved.

Quite a few speakers promoted ideas of providing alternatives to current food production and consumption systems - alternatives which are committed to ecological sustainability and social responsibility. Several farmers spoke about diversified farming, organic farming, direct marketing, community shared agriculture, urban-farm linkages, etc. Cathleen Hockman-Wert, one of the editors of the forthcoming Simply in Season cookbook, encouraged consumers to try to eat food that is in season and grown locally - and also be prepared to pay more - as a way of shortening the food chain and ensuring that food has "a good story."

Stu Clark of Canadian Foodgrains Bank spoke about the importance of taking the long view. He noted that a civilization's food system determined whether that civilization would live or die. Current trends in the global food system - global climate change, corporate concentration, dependence on fossil fuels, loss of farming knowledge, etc - suggest that we are headed in the wrong direction. And because the system is global, the future of the entire planet is at stake.

A key theme that was referred to many times was the culture of consumption to which most westerners are addicted, and which legitimates the current global economic system. Dan Nagangast suggested a "12 Step Program" to help people counter this addiction and sense of "entitlement" that economic abundance breeds. MCC was encouraged to address this issue.

At several points in the consultation, participants raised questions about certain MCC practices and whether they contribute to injustice. Specific reference was made to where MCC purchases its T-shirts and relief kit supplies and the concern that MCC purchases not unintentionally contribute to exacerbating sweat-shop-like conditions for poor workers in the global South. There was a suggestion that MCC peace and justice staff and resource generation staff need to be in conversation about how to engage constituents in responding to global needs and to encourage more justice-oriented responses.

Recommendations re: Advocacy

In pursuit of affirming dignity, community and healthy relationships and protecting and sustaining natural resources and the Human Right to Adequate Food.

• Policies, both domestic and international, should permit priority to local production for local consumption
• International agricultural trade policies should ensure stable fair exchange that provides sustainable livelihoods for those involved.

Recommendations re: Education

MCC should invest significant resources into providing resources and animation for education within the MCC constituency. These are the messages to be conveyed:

1. there is a spiritual and ethical dimension to all economic activity
2. God's desires a "manna-based food policy" which ensures enough (not too much or too little) for all people
3. access to adequate nutrition food for all people is a human right
4. the growing gap between rich and poor, both domestically and internationally, is sin
5. many North Americans (including MCC supporters) are addicted to the culture of consumption
6. stewardship is not the same as frugality. Consumers need to be prepared to pay more, not less, for the food and other goods they need
7. individuals and communities can challenge the existing food system by choices that shorten the food chain
8. food is a gracious gift from God

In terms of specific actions, MCC is encouraged to

• develop a statement on economic globalization, arising out of the 4 consultations
• develop a training module for MCC worker orientation
• facilitate ways of building relationships between food producers and consumers.
• facilitate ways of bringing Mexican, Canadian and American farmers together
• create resources such as TV spots, simulations games, etc.
• create a database of stories of how farmers around the world have adapted to different conditions around the world
• encourage congregations to
  • do theological reflection on food, land and care of the earth
  • provide discernment, support and accountability for our choices as producers and consumers
  • become venues for action: community kitchens, community gardens, garden mentors
• offer resourcing for conflict resolution where competing agriculture interests in rural congregations have led to conflict