By Abdullahi Lukman
The world must rethink how food is produced, consumed and valued by combining scientific and economic solutions with a stronger ethical and spiritual connection to food, organisers of a global summit in Bhutan have said.
More than 60 countries and United Nations representatives are attending the five-day Conscious Food Summit in Paro, Bhutan, where governments, farmers, mindfulness practitioners and other experts are examining ways to build food systems capable of withstanding climate change, conflict and economic instability.
Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay said transforming global food systems would require both changes in agricultural practices and a shift in how people think about food and their relationship with nature.
“Food lies at the intersection of many of the defining challenges of our time,” Tobgay said, citing hunger, malnutrition, poverty, climate change, biodiversity loss and disruptions caused by conflict and geopolitical tensions.
The summit is promoting conscious eating, regenerative agriculture and Indigenous knowledge as part of efforts to create more resilient food systems. Organisers said the approach is not intended to replace science but to ensure that scientific advances, policies, investment and technology are guided by values that protect people and the environment.
The discussions come amid growing concerns over the impact of climate-related disasters on global food production. Extreme heat, drought, wildfires and flooding have damaged agricultural systems in several parts of the world, while the risk of a severe El Niño event could further threaten food supplies and push millions of people towards hunger.
Jerry Spooner of Pacific-based organisation Regenerative Vanua said climate change, biodiversity loss and geopolitical instability were exposing weaknesses in existing food systems.
He said the priority should move beyond simply producing more food to developing systems that restore ecosystems, strengthen rural communities, preserve cultural knowledge and improve resilience.
Tobgay said governments and businesses should also rethink how food policies are developed, arguing that farmers and rural communities should have a greater role in decisions affecting their livelihoods.
He said excessive treatment of food as a commodity had contributed to waste, unhealthy consumption and environmental degradation.
According to him, a conscious approach to agriculture would protect soil and water, reduce pollution and deforestation, and improve the welfare and dignity of farmers.
The summit also seeks to encourage individuals to reconsider their personal relationship with food. Tobgay said simple practices such as reflecting on where food comes from, how it was produced and preparing for meals with gratitude could help influence broader attitudes towards food and the environment.
The gathering takes place against a backdrop of increasing pressure on global food systems, with organisers arguing that addressing the crisis will require changes not only in agriculture, markets and government policy but also in human behaviour and values.
