Webinar on Weekend Episode 1: Food Systems Approach to Policy Making

For our first presentation on the topic “Taking Food System Approach to Policy Making: What, How, and Why”, Atty Millan discussed the components in enabling environment for the Food System with politics and leadership as one of the external drivers. He also highlighted that a systems problem requires a system solution.

In here, he emphasized the concept and importance of system’s thinking and the Food System Approach. In the last part of his presentation, he provided a step-by-step process and a concrete example namely the trans-fat free PH on how the FSA can be used in policy making. In the second topic entitled “Taking Food System Approach to crafting resolutions and ordinances: developing a shared agenda”, Dr. Samson discussed the Sustainable Food Systems framework, the principles, and the triple challenge. She also discussed that the way to make better policies is to develop a shared agenda. That’s why she always advocates that there should be public and stakeholder consultations. Moreover, there is also a need to assess the situation and identify the challenges found in a certain LGU or community. Dr. Samson ended her presentation with a call to further strengthen institutional capacity for long-term food systems and governance. For the last topic entitled ”Taking Food System Approach: managing the stakeholders for urban agriculture”, Dir. Panganiban, shared with us the pressing challenges and threats to food security and highlighting pests, diseases, and climate change. He discussed urban agriculture as an important approach to address food security threats. He also highlighted that urban agriculture could increase our access to locally produced, climate resilient, and nutritious foods wherein we can subsequently reduce food waste, food miles and our dependence on external food sources at the same time. In line with this, he shared with us the national urban and peri-urban agriculture program including its accomplishments, contributions, and partnerships in promoting sustainable food systems in our country. Given all the information provided by our speakers, it can be concluded that FSA is very important for responsive and effective policies. Food System Approach to policy making considers the entire food system holistically. It acknowledges the processes of producing, processing, distributing, and consuming food are interrelated and dependent parts of a complex system. Instead of focusing and concentrating on individual issues, policymakers should handle the many possibilities and problems that exist through the whole food system. All the concepts and efforts they have discussed also showed how important the FSA especially in ensuring availability, accessibility, and sustainability of healthy food in every household. Enabling policies on maintaining the integrity of our food systems can help create alternative livelihood for many people including the vulnerable populations, provide an opportunity to expand our economic development, and promote happy and healthy living for everyone. All our speakers are advocating strategic partnerships with various stakeholders to synergize our efforts in working on effective policies in addressing multifactorial problems in the food system.