Finding balance in the food systems: Insights from the Global Youth Dialogue
Author: Kim Anastasiou (PhD Candidate at Deakin University and UN Food Systems Summit Youth Liaison Committee Member)
The food system is draining environmental resources, contributing to a global health crisis, and not providing meaningful work for youth. Youth are demanding transformation of the food system to secure a better future for all.
In May 2021, 100 youth from around the world came together to discuss the key issues with the food system and how we can transform the food system to make it healthier, more sustainable, and equitable by 2030. As a facilitator of a group of 10 participants it surprised me that despite the diversity of participants, both in location (Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe) and expertise (agriculture, social justice, public health, and more), our problems all stemmed from the same root: the power in the food system is unbalanced.
Details: https://www.un.org/en/food-systems-summit/news/global-youth-summit-dialogue-spotlight
The food system is dominated by transnational corporations which creates barriers for youth to engage. Youth struggle to find funding to engage in independent farming and to compete in the food manufacturing space. Large corporations are able to tap into global supply chains which gives them access to mass-produced ingredients to create inexpensive products. These can be produced using intensive and environmentally degrading farming practices and do not always provide appropriate remuneration for workers. An example of this is the destruction of ecologically important rainforests for the production of palm oil. These mass-produced ingredients are often processed into ultra-processed foods.
Ultra-processed foods (think junk food) are produced via industrial processes which degrade the nutritional quality of foods and often contain high levels of artificial additives as well as salt, fat, and sugar. Over-consumption of these foods is associated with type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all-cause mortality (death).
The proliferation of ultra-processed foods, combined with their hyper-palatability and affordability, means that even when we know these foods aren’t healthy we still eat them. This is particularly true for youth who often do not have the financial resources of older generations (think of a typical student diet) and who have been the target of marketing campaigns since birth.
We need change.
As youth we ask:
1. policymakers to prioritize health, environmental sustainability, and equity over profits;
2. for opportunities for youth to meaningfully contribute to the production of healthy and sustainable foods through the introduction of grants and loans for young farmers and independent manufacturers;
3. for the regulation of unhealthy and environmentally degrading ultra-processed foods through fiscal policies and appropriate food labeling;
4. for food system policy makers to meaningfully engage with young people to enable our voices to shape our future.
For more information:
UN Food Systems Summit: https://www.un.org/en/food-systems-summit
Seferidi et al. 2020 ‘The neglected environmental impacts of ultra-processed foods’ available at: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196%2820%2930177-7/fulltext
Elizabeth et al. 2020 ‘Ultra-Processed Foods and Health Outcomes: A Narrative Review’ Nutrients available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32630022/
Montiero et al. 2019, ‘Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them’ Public Health Nutrition available at: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/public-health-nutrition/article/ultraprocessed-foods-what-they-are-and-how-to-identify-them/E6D744D714B1FF09D5BCA3E74D53A185
Oxfam 2015 ‘Behind the Brands’, available at: https://www.behindthebrands.org/company-scorecard/
About the Author:
Kim Anastasiou is a member of the UN Food Systems Summit Youth Liaison Committee and PhD Candidate at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia. Kim is a research dietitian and sustainability advocate and has co-authored a number of papers on the environmental sustainability of the Australian diet. Her research is now focused on analyzing the environmental impacts of ultra-processed foods. You can find her on Twitter @KimAnastasiou
Know more about Major Group for Children and Youth: https://www.unmgcy.org/
Join the YOUTHS in Food Systems Community: https://foodsystems.community/communities/youth/
