In a compelling presentation for the FEAST project, Professor Molly Anderson laid out a transformative vision for food systems, emphasising the urgent need for a shift toward sustainability, food justice, and resilience. Her insights, shaped by years of research and advocacy, contrast the prevailing extractive industrialised food system with an alternative regenerative model that prioritises human rights, ecological integrity, and equitable access to nutritious food.

The crisis in food systems: a global perspective

Professor Anderson began by contextualising the threats facing food systems globally, drawing comparisons between the European Union (EU) and the United States. She noted that while both regions share many challenges, the U.S. food system has been particularly undermined by policies that ignore civil society, prioritise corporate profits, weaken environmental protections, and allow the spread of disinformation.
Among the most alarming trends in the U.S. is the retreat from international agreements, including the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization. The consequences of such decisions, she warned, are severe—deepening inequalities, weakening the workforce that underpins food systems, and exacerbating climate-related food crises.

Fortress world vs. eco-communalism

Anderson introduced two competing visions for the future, drawn from the Great Transitions Initiative. The first, "Fortress World," represents a dystopian reality where protectionism, exclusion, and corporate dominance define food access. The second, "Eco-Communalism," envisions food systems grounded in community resilience, cooperation, and environmental stewardship.
She warned that the U.S. is moving dangerously close to a Fortress World scenario, where wealth and resources are concentrated in the hands of a few, while marginalised communities bear the brunt of food insecurity and economic instability. However, she also pointed out that alternative, more just food systems are possible if societies prioritise regeneration over extraction.

Competing narratives in food systems

Anderson identified two dominant meta-narratives in food policy:

1. The extractive industrialised food system: A model where food is treated solely as a commodity, prioritising profit over public well-being. This system has led to corporate concentration, environmental degradation, and widening inequalities in food access.
2. The regenerative food system: A vision where food is recognised as a public good, embedded within human rights and environmental sustainability. In this model, food production and distribution operate within an ethical and ecological framework where care, reciprocity, and community empowerment have value.

Principles of a regenerative food system

Anderson argued that a just and sustainable food system must be based on the following principles:

• Food as a public good: rather than being controlled by a few wealthy corporations, food must be accessible to all, recognising its essential role in human survival and well-being.
• Human rights-based approach: everyone has the right to adequate, nutritious food, independent of their economic status.
• Ecological integrity: food systems must work within nature’s limits (planetary boundaries), respecting biodiversity and adopting regenerative agricultural practices.
• Short supply chains and localised food systems: strengthening regional food networks reduces dependence on global markets, builds resilience, and enhances food sovereignty.
• Democratic participation: true food democracy means engaging civil society in decision-making processes rather than allowing corporate interests to dictate policies.

These principles directly challenge the competitiveness-focused agenda that dominates much of global food policy. Instead of prioritising economic competition, Anderson called for food systems that prioritise well-being, sustainability, and equity.

Corporate concentration and the erosion of food sovereignty

One of the most urgent challenges Anderson identified is the growing concentration of power among multinational food corporations. A small number of corporations control vast portions of the global food supply, dictating what is produced, how it is produced and distributed, and who can access it.
Corporate-controlled food systems, she explained, extract wealth from communities rather than reinvesting in local economies. This model leaves food systems vulnerable to market volatility, environmental disasters, and geopolitical disruptions.
To counteract this, Anderson emphasised the need for land redistribution, support for small-scale farmers, and policies that strengthen community-based food initiatives.

Policy recommendations: building an equitable and sustainable food system

To transition toward a regenerative food system, Anderson outlined several key policy recommendations:

1. Eliminate fossil fuel subsidies in agriculture: many industrialised farming practices rely heavily on fossil fuels, contributing to climate change. Removing these subsidies would encourage more sustainable farming practices.
2. Invest in agroecology: agroecology, which integrates ecological principles into food systems, offers a viable alternative to industrial agriculture. Supporting research and education in agroecological practices is critical for long-term food sustainability.
3. Strengthen labour protections: food systems rely on a workforce that is often underpaid and exploited. Policies that protect agricultural workers’ rights, including those of migrant labourers, are essential.
4. Enforce corporate accountability: governments must regulate multinational corporations to prevent exploitative practices and ensure compliance with environmental and labour standards.
5. Support food sovereignty movements: empowering local communities to control their own food systems through cooperative models, community-supported agriculture, and land trusts can enhance food security and resilience.
6. Integrate food justice into climate policy: Climate change and food systems are deeply interconnected. Any climate action plan must incorporate strategies for ensuring sustainable and equitable food production and distribution.

Moving beyond competitiveness: a call for care and cooperation

Anderson critiqued the emphasis on "competitiveness" in food policy, arguing that competition alone cannot address the systemic challenges facing global food systems and will exacerbate existing problems. Instead, she advocated for policies grounded in care, cooperation, and social solidarity.
This perspective aligns with movements advocating for "degrowth"—a shift away from endless economic expansion toward a model that prioritises ecological health and social well-being. Anderson highlighted the need for food movements to align with broader struggles for environmental justice, labour rights, and democratic governance.

Choosing the way forward

Professor Molly Anderson’s presentation painted a stark yet hopeful picture of the future of food systems. While the threats posed by corporate consolidation, environmental degradation, and political instability are real, alternative models rooted in regeneration, justice, and cooperation offer a way forward.
The choice is clear: Societies can either continue down the path of Fortress World, where food becomes a tool of social exclusion and profit maximisation, or they can build food systems that prioritise care, reciprocity, and resilience. The time to act is now; and, as Anderson emphasised, the EU and other global actors must lead the way in upholding these values, especially as the US has moved toward authoritarianism.
Her message was a call to action for policymakers, activists, and citizens alike. Reshaping food systems requires collective action, visionary leadership, and an unwavering commitment to justice and sustainability.
Anderson urged policymakers to choose between two paths: an exploitative food system or a model that treats food as a public good. She called for bold action—ending fossil fuel subsidies, investing in agroecology, strengthening labour protections, and holding corporations accountable.
But it didn’t end there. She also challenged policymakers to move away from the constant drive for competitiveness in food policy, arguing that true sustainability depends on cooperation and solidarity. The future of food hinges on decisive action, and the question remains: will we deepen inequality, or embrace a fairer, more sustainable vision?
 

The recordings and presentation slides from our second Policy Chat webinar can be found here:

Presentations: FEAST Policy Chat Webinar 02 
Recordings: FEAST Policy Chat Webinar 02 - Part 3