EAT: Around the table in Stockholm

How can we feed the world’s population without destroying the planet that we all live on? The EAT conference has a clear vision: To realise a sustainable food system that provides enough nutritious food to feed a global population of nine billion by the middle of this century. For the second consecutive year, the EAT Stockholm Food Forum is bringing together leaders in a wide range of fields to discuss how to achieve this.

We must encourage action – not denial

The Crown Princess focused in particular on communication in her remarks during the opening of the conference on Monday. She stated that in order to mobilise all of us to do our part, we must change how we frame our communication about climate change. It is crucial to inspire people to take positive action instead of frightening them into apathy.

“We need to emphasise green choices people can make in their everyday life, and make it simpler, more meaningful – and more fun. Rather than more doom, we need to tell stories and visions of the society and the world we deeply want to sustain. We need to remember the experiences of nature each and every one of us treasure in the places where we live. And most importantly, we must create a grounded hope that we can, and will, choose to be a part of the long-term solution and no longer a part of the problem.”

Food and climate – climate and food

What we eat, and how it is produced and distributed, affects the climate. At the same time, the climate – and climate change – affects where and how we can produce food.

Realising a food system that can feed everyone in an effective, sustainable manner requires a concerted effort on the part of government authorities, business leaders, researchers and consumers. There are many complex interconnections involved in this issue, and it will take both knowledge and cooperation to succeed.

Researchers, business leaders and policymakers are in Stockholm Monday and Tuesday. Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg gave a speech Monday morning in which she noted that international agreements to combat climate change and poverty and promote sustainable food production have an important role to play. As an example, she pointed to the upcoming climate change conference in Paris:

“In September we will launch the new Sustainable Development Goals, and at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in December the world must adopt a new climate agreement.”

Prime Minister Solberg emphasised that the agreements must be ambitious.

Roadmap for food

The delegates to the forum will discuss a roadmap for food up to 2050. The activities will consist of keynote presentations, smaller seminars, panel discussions and working groups. The aim is to formulate specific guidelines through interdisciplinary discussion.