The National Policy Dialogue on Just Transition and Adaptation in the South African Food System, held from 20–22 September 2023 in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, aimed to foster a common understanding, agenda, and policy approach for a just transition in South Africa’s food system. Convened by Biowatch South Africa, African Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), Alliance for Rural Advancement (AFRA), Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ), LandNESS, Tshintsha Amakhaya, Climate Champions for Adaptation, Adaptation Network, Environmental Monitoring Group, and the National Labour and Economic Development Institute (NALEDI), the Dialogue successfully brought together a range of sectors, including labour organisations, small-scale farmers, farm workers, informal traders, waste reclaimers, food and land justice groups, civil society, and policymakers, to work towards a shared, just, and transformative agenda on adaptation, mitigation, and ecological transition in the food system. The event provided a chance for government officials to communicate their policy positions on agriculture, food, and climate, and for the different constituencies to engage (and challenge!) them. The Dialogue laid the groundwork for ongoing policy discussions.
To support ongoing horizontal learning and education leading up to and during the National Policy Dialogue, a series of fact sheets on key elements for a just transition in the food system was co-developed and produced in five languages – Afrikaans, English, Sepedi, Xhosa, and Zulu.
Click the cover images and links below to read and download the series.