Food sovereignty is an approach to understanding the diverse relationships that bring food from the fields, waters, and forests to our plates.

La Via Campesina, the world’s largest global peasant movement, defines food sovereignty as “the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems.” 1

Food sovereignty is comprehensive. It integrates all components of the food system, from production to consumption. It emphasizes the health of individuals, the environment, and local economies while supporting regional food self-reliance.