MANIFESTO

Section 9
ECONOMIC TRANSITION TOWARD A SUSTAINABLE
AND EQUITABLE FOOD FUTURE
Current economic and trade regimes have played a major role in creating
perverse incentives that increase carbon emissions, accelerating climate
change. The growth paradigm based on limitless consumption and false
economic indicators such as gross national product (GNP) are pushing countries
and communities toward increasing vulnerability and instability. Trade rules
and economic systems should support the principle of subsidiarity - that is,
favouring local economies and local food systems which reduce our carbon
footprint while increasing democratic participation and the quality of life.
In material, physical, and biological terms the industrial agriculture economy is
a negative economy that requires huge energy inputs. The cost of energy inputs
are externalized and the financial calculus is dependent upon subsidies. This
distorts the real price of food and its real costs in environmental, social, cultural
and political terms.
Current financial and trade regimes continue to perpetuate and enlarge this
negative economy. Instead of rewarding long-distance, uniform, centralized
food systems, policies should support the principle of subsidiary. In other words,
local production for local consumption should be the first tier of food security.
This means shortening the food chain and food miles.
Subsidiarity devolves power downward to local communities, local and regional
governments, instead of setting uniform policies at an international level that
are mandated for all countries, as is done via WTO rules. Localization more
easily increases democracy and control by communities, regions, and nationstates.
Although climate change is a global problem and the global community
must work together for the future of the planet, the solutions and adaptations
must be grounded in local solutions which ensure diversity, the key strategy for
survival.