Large scale land acquisitions, climate change, and urbanisation: new challenges that call for NGOs to change their approach from food security to the right to adequate food for all

The universal declaration of human rights stipulates that everyone should have access to adequate standard of living including sufficient and appropriate food. Whereas the legal instrument to make the right to food enforceable are still being developed and debated, it is undeniable that states have an obligation to respect, protect and promote the progressive realisation of the right to food for all the populations under their jurisdiction. It is equally undeniable that the realisation of the right to food in many countries will take concerted effort and international support and that climate change, population growth, urbanisation and the land grab, represent new challenges particularly for the most vulnerable. According to a recent study between 2006 and mid-2009, some 37 million to 49 million acres of farmland have changed hands or are under negotiation1 most of these in developing countries; and when we consider that the Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates that by 2050 climate change will decrease food and agricultural production by up to 30 percent in parts of the developing world, the challenge of ensuring that the world’s food production is not only sufficient to feed its entire population in a sustainable manner, but also to ensure that adequate food is accessible to all, appears even greater.

Traditionally NGOs have focused on supporting local communities to increase their food security with great success, and advocating locally and internationally for human rights; however if we truly adopt a human rights approach in our work, we must apply the same sharp analysis we direct at global trends to our work and be compelled to recognise that adequate food is a human right and that our work should focus on its progressive realisation, not just for one group, but for all. Increasing the food security of one group is not sufficient or even acceptable if it weakens the enjoyment of other rights by the same or another groups, including those who are not born yet. Aside from being an enforceable right under international law (at present 153 States have ratified the ICESCR main legal instrument for enforcing the right to adequate food); adopting a right to food approach over a food security one, also presents the advantage to allow a broader analysis, both in terms of the spectrum of activities and in terms of the populations concerned, promoting their human dignity as rights holders and calls for more equitable sharing of the benefits of development.

Whilst most people in the world realise their right to food through work, in developing countries the majority of people are dependant on the direct production of food for their survival and rely on small scale farming with little or no access to inputs, technology and research to improve production. At the same time, most developing countries, confronted with chronic food insecurity, low levels of employment, low levels productivity in the farming sector, and also now the effects of climate change and increasing urbanisation; struggle to develop systems that would allow the realisation of the right to food and many other human rights, with too little cash in their coffers and generally only natural resources to pay for the required investment.

Attracting investment and modernisation in agricultural production systems and promoting employment could certainly be a way in which developing countries can foster the progressive realisation of the right to food and these investments look even more attractive when considering that land is often under utilised and the profit from sales and long term leases would bring into the country’s coffers some much needed funds, that would allow, among other, the fulfilment of other human rights such as health and education. However, the lack of transparency and allegation of corruption and mismanagement, on the way such contracts have been drawn, have also contributed to the sense of preoccupation with which the local and global civil society is regarding this issue.

The great majority of small scale farmers with whom NGOs partner to increase food security at household or community level, draw their productive means from land to which they only have customary rights but no legal rights, should it be sold, leased or be irreparably deteriorated, they are unlikely to be able to claim compensation in the courts. Also, land that appears to be left idle is, very often carefully utilised and managed but the economic contribution that these resources make to the lives and livelihoods of local people are equally not documented or quantified. Preventing individuals and communities from accessing the resources they need to feed themselves would, of course, constitute a violation of their right to food; but equally, if preventing them from accessing other natural resources required for their livelihoods, such as firewood or other products would result, as it is likely, in reducing of their ability to access adequate food, that would also constitute a violation of their right to food. Supporting therefore partner communities in documenting the utilisation, economic contribution and customary rights to natural resources is one way in which NGOs could support them in both claiming their rights legally, should such need arise, but also would provide evidence against the too often generalised assumption of under-utilisation of land resources under traditional use and of its negligible contribution to the economy.

Secondly, there is increasing evidence that small scale farmers who have begun to experience the adverse consequences of climate change have been experimenting and introducing innovations in their farming techniques and that they do this as a matter common practice. NGOs could play an important role not only in supporting these efforts, but also in documenting and sharing these practices, contributing to dispelling the assumption that innovative practices to counteract the effects from climate change would require high technology solutions and high levels of investments. In fact indigenous low-tech innovations can be more easily transferred and often make a remarkable contribution to the local economy, even if seldom receive due credit for it. Highlighting examples of success and innovation could also contribute to promoting farming as a viable career, with dignity and respect for indigenous knowledge and entrepreneurship, and perhaps prevent some the rural youth from joining the ever growing multitudes of urban unemployed.

Finally, ngo programmes supporting local communities in setting up small business activities to enhance their economic development (and hence access to food and other rights), too often, in my experience, allow these economic activities to remain as part of the informal sector, even when they become successful. By not becoming registered, not paying taxes and not complying with the same rules and regulation of mainstream business, including employment and health and safety regulations, these activities benefit greatly the families and groups involved, but not their communities and countries at large; furthermore they can actually weaken them through loss of tax earning and social protection. Moreover, since the economic contributions of the informal sector are almost impossible to quantify, and do not contribute to the greater good of the country, they can more easily be sacrificed in favour of larger enterprises, but also rights to compensation for loss of earning would be more difficult to claim.

An instinctive sense of indignation accompanies the consciousness of large tracts of fertile land in food insecure countries, becoming unavailable for food production either because of permanent degradation or because of being utilised to produce food for export to rich nations or for the production of fuels, whilst millions in the world do not have access to enough food to eat.

It is time for NGOs, who have aptly harnessed global solidarity, to mainstream their sharp analysis of global trends and commitment to human rights, into their everyday practice to ensure the most basic of all human rights is realised for all.