Why Food Should Be A Commons Not A Commodity

Food is treated as a private good in today's industrial food system, but it must be re-conceived as a common good in the transition toward a more sustainable food system that is fairer to food producers and consumers. If we were to treat food as a commons, it could be better produced and distributed by hybrid tri-centric governance systems implemented at the local level and compounded by market rules, public regulations, and collective actions. This change would have enormous ethical, legal, economic, and nutritional implications for the global food system.

[T]he value of food is no longer based on the many dimensions that bring us security and health, including the fact that food is a: Basic human need and should be available to all Fundamental human right that should be guaranteed to every citizen Pillar of our culture for producers and consumers alike Natural, renewable resource that can be controlled by humans Marketable product subject to fair trade and sustainable production Global common good that should be enjoyed by all