The Belém Declaration on Plant-Rich Diets, forged during last month’s UN climate talks in Bonn, calls on national governments to promote healthy and sustainable diets through action plans for plant-based foods. It is the most recent example of NGOs driving the change we need to see in our food systems.
My hope is that the calls of more than 90 NGOs are heeded, and that policymakers and national governments step up to the ambition – because NGOs can’t do it alone.
It has been a privilege to be part of a food movement that has grown so much, especially over the past few years. But my biggest fear is the momentum – built through work and determination – will stall without everyone playing their part. And this goes beyond policy.
Collaboration across the system
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: lasting change demands collaboration between people who don’t always sit at the same table. We need chefs alongside CEOs. Youth activists partnering with retailers. Farmers sharing platforms with policymakers. If we’re serious about transforming the food system, these are the partnerships that will determine success or failure.
It’s tricky, but that is not to say it hasn’t happened. In fact, I know first-hand there have been moments in which stakeholders from across the food system have come together to create impact. One of my fondest memories is launching The Cow in the Room at COP26 on behalf of Humane World for Animals.
The campaign dared to name the agricultural elephant in the climate room, calling out the political silence around animal farming. What made it powerful wasn’t just the message, but the alliance behind it: a diverse mix of scientists, campaigners, and creatives using plain language to challenge powerful interests.
More recently, Action on Food made waves at COP29 by bringing together NGOs, youth voices, farmers, and business leaders under one pavilion to demand food system change at the heart of climate negotiations. The initiative’s strength lay not in its messaging alone, but in the audacity of bringing together voices that rarely occupy the same space.
Pushing for real change
What we need is collaboration on a larger scale, because no single actor can fix the system alone. Real change emerges when we work through tensions for the sake of a food system that is kind to humans, animals, and the planet.
We, as a collective of stakeholders, can no longer afford to drag our feet or pretend the problem doesn’t exist. Time is running out, and the data is impossible to ignore. The food industry has the power to move quickly – it has the scale and influence needed to drive real behaviour change.
Retailers control what appears on shelves, food manufacturers shape product development, and restaurants influence dining culture. When these players collaborate with activists, scientists, and policymakers, transformation becomes possible.
Whilst the Belém Declaration lays a foundation for progress, we must now roll up our sleeves, find common ground with unlikely allies, and build a better future together.
Sean Mackenney, associate director and head of food at Stand
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