Africa Why We Must Start the Debate on Food Sovereignty Now

Many countries prioritise food security, recognising that ensuring access to adequate food is a fundamental responsibility of government. While this remains a central governmental duty, the concept of food sovereignty extends beyond basic provision. Food sovereignty emphasises control over agricultural and food systems, raising important questions about which actors - government, market, or citizens as both producers and consumers - should have decision-making authority in these sectors.

Food sovereignty refers to a country, or a group of countries, making independent decisions about their agriculture and food production systems. In practice, international trade flows can influence or restrict the extent to which nations are able to make these choices independently.

Sovereignty and autonomy are distinct concepts. Sovereignty concerns the authority exercised by a government within its own territory, while autonomy refers to the degree of independence or discretion that individuals or companies have within those established frameworks. For example, a farmer acts autonomously when implementing national and international guidelines. Discussions about entrepreneurial freedom in agriculture often overlook the fact that such freedom is shaped by policy frameworks, trade agreements, and market conditions.

What is referred to as ‘autonomous development’ in economic policy—such as economies of scale, intensification, or globalisation—is also shaped by existing policy frameworks that define the scope for manoeuvre in these activities. Proponents of agricultural transition or a healthier food environment frequently encounter these established structures.

Food security doesn't ensure lasting solutions. Stability requires food sovereignty

Current Situation
Almost every country has become dependent on imports and exports for its food supply. Even countries with extensive agricultural land. A strange balance of mutual dependence, land loss, and waste has emerged.

The Netherlands takes pride in its intensive agricultural exports, while the import of essential food products receives comparatively little attention. In contrast, France faces a different reality. A report released by Terre de Liens in early 2025 revealed that 43% of French agricultural land is used for exports. Simultaneously, France imports food equivalent to that produced on 10 million hectares—an amount needed to meet its own food needs.

The war in Ukraine and the Covid-19 pandemic have exposed the fragility of our globalised food system. Food security does not ensure lasting solutions. Stability requires food sovereignty. Without food sovereignty, disruptions such as price spikes or halted trade may quickly lead to shortages.

The Trade Relationship between the Netherlands and Burkina Faso
While food sovereignty is often regarded as an abstract concept, its effects are tangible in practice. For example, Burkina Faso has set a goal of achieving dairy self-sufficiency by 2050. However, current conditions reveal a different reality: significant imports of milk powder from Europe—primarily the Netherlands—continue to dominate the market. Additionally, a portion of grains such as wheat, maize, and sorghum, for both human and animal consumption, are sourced externally.

In June 2025, I participated in a PUM-mission in Burkina Faso, where I provided training to dairy farmers on topics such as animal nutrition, animal welfare, and business risk management. Additionally, I delivered a lecture to Burkinabè organizations, ministries, and universities focusing on the theme of 'dairy sovereignty'. The main point emphasised was that food sovereignty is a global issue rather than one unique to Africa. The recommendations shared with attendees included:

• Increasing domestic production of grain and animal feed; investing in water management through better collection, conservation, and use of groundwater and rainwater;
• Acknowledging and respecting the diversity of farmers’ perspectives and priorities; incorporating sociological aspects into technical training for livestock farmers;
• Organising processing, marketing, and revenue distribution of locally produced dairy products; and ensuring fair competition with imported milk powder.

How do you organise fair competition? I did not have an answer

The recommendations immediately prompted important questions regarding the organisation of fair competition—one I did not have. This led to a subsequent discussion at the Dutch embassy, in which the inquiry was reframed: what are the Netherlands' interests in Burkina Faso? Is the priority to facilitate milk powder exports despite the environmental challenges stemming from intensive dairy production, such as nitrogen emissions? Alternatively, does our interest lie in sharing expertise and experience, as we have done previously in supporting sustainable dairy sectors in East Africa?

This strategy contributed to the development of the dairy sector in these countries. However, such forms of assistance have recently been reduced. How can it be justified that similar support is not extended to West Africa, particularly given the increasing demand for cooperation in the region?

According to current Dutch development policy, aid is expected to deliver direct advantages to the Netherlands. This approach has made it increasingly difficult to pursue alternative strategies, particularly as funding has diminished and effective approaches are frequently discontinued. As a result, global challenges like food sovereignty remain pertinent to both Africa and the Netherlands, illustrating the interconnected nature of policy decisions across regions.

The Challenges Are Complex
Addressing food sovereignty requires examining governance structures, including legislation, enforcement, and the roles of national and international bodies. The topic involves not only food policies but also areas such as trade, environmental issues, transportation, fair competition, food waste, and access to nutritious and culturally appropriate food.

While it references mirror clauses and improved free trade agreements, it does not clearly articulate how these measures support increased food sovereignty

This complexity is also evident in Europe. In 2023, France requested that the think tank Europe Jacques Delors (EJD) investigate the implications of food sovereignty for the European Union. EJD's input into a French parliamentary report was presented in a question-and-answer format under the title "Greening Agri-Food Policy in Europe 6”.

Several of the responses in that list address the core issue: Europe enjoys greater protection than many other regions across various domains. For example, subsidies and trade agreements often result in higher prices for our products, particularly unprocessed goods. However, Europe maintains a competitive advantage with processed products, as the greatest added value typically occurs during the processing stage.

However, the EJD article loses focus at a crucial juncture. While it references mirror clauses and improved free trade agreements - a central topic during the farmers' protests in Brussels in 2024 - it fails to clearly articulate how these measures support increased food sovereignty for nations and local communities. In fact, the establishment of trade agreements, which are consistently negotiated between governments and are inherently temporary, may ultimately undermine the long-term sovereignty of countries and their communities. True sovereignty demands lasting stability and continuity, rather than short-term arrangements with significant ramifications.

At the conclusion of the article, the EJD think tank suggests establishing a global forum for monitoring, reporting, and verification. However, the consequences for the day-to-day practices of small and medium-sized local communities, as well as their farmers and processing industries, are not addressed. Large, internationally operating companies are generally able to meet these requirements more easily than small local producers. As a result, smaller entities may face disadvantages due to the situation referred to as “autonomous development.”

Policy Proposals
Concrete proposals remain limited, though progress is being made. Slow Food Netherlands has offered ten actionable recommendations for local governments, focusing on municipal-level changes—a promising start. Here are broader suggestions:

Stakeholder Mobilisation
Most countries rely on food imports, albeit for different products. With strategic planning, international coalitions can generate mutual benefits.

Establishing a global forum would help governments prioritise food sovereignty in trade agreements, giving them greater flexibility to support participatory, locally shaped food and agricultural systems.

Strengthening the Theme of Sovereignty
Connect food sovereignty with other sovereignty topics such as migration and population growth, security, the environment, and control over land use, natural resources, energy, water, and data collection.

Communicate the extent of governmental authority regarding sovereignty without shifting responsibilities, but rather by fostering cooperation among various government levels and institutions to collectively pursue 'autonomous development'.

Cooperation in Horizontal and Vertical Networks
Provide legal opportunities for companies and partnerships outside current 'autonomous development' to experiment, aiming to increase food sovereignty for local producers and consumers.

Involve a diverse group of technical, social, and humanitarian experts in developing and connecting local initiatives. Encourage participation from young people, women, and individuals who are less socially integrated, supporting them in applying their skills and building community connections around food.

Supporting Food-Focused Local Logistics and Distribution
Allocate municipal land for school gardens, agricultural education, and food production near residents, including livestock production.

Organise shared distribution points and promote local sales, enhance trading conditions, and support short supply chains from producer to consumer. Facilitate accessible, healthy, and culturally relevant eateries within communities.

Limit bulk supply operations around strategic local food centres to maintain balanced competition.

As long as overarching power structures are not addressed, certainty remains unattainable

No Food Security without Food Sovereignty
Food sovereignty encourages reconsideration of food policy by recognising its importance beyond technical or economic aspects while also addressing power dynamics and governance.

Decision-making regarding production methods and distribution remains an ongoing issue in multiple regions, including Burkina Faso and Europe. Local agricultural producers and food processors, particularly women in the poultry and dairy sectors, face challenges due to imports and international agreements.

National and regional governments are experiencing a reduced capacity to independently manage agricultural and food systems.

The discussion on food security has become narrowly focused on supply. As long as overarching power structures are not addressed, certainty of access to food remains unattainable. The argument for food sovereignty centres on increasing democratic oversight of food systems rather than opposing globalisation.

Enhanced oversight may benefit farmers, food industry workers, consumers, and governments by providing greater agency in the food sector. The objective is to implement new trade regulations that consider factors beyond financial efficiency and cost.

Food sovereignty issues can arise both internationally and domestically, including in Europe, its nations, and countries on other continents. Attention to food sovereignty may influence both political and individual choices.

Last month, the EU budget discussions for the period beginning in 2028 commenced. My suggestion is that the agricultural budget be allocated to restructuring EU agricultural and food system policies, creating more opportunities for autonomous development tailored to the needs of both the European population and people in other countries.