Best4Food, the Research Centre for Food Science and Technology of the University of Milano-Bicocca, will take part on 21 April in the Indigenous People Food Policy Summit, organised by the New York Food Policy Center in collaboration with Hunter College in New York. The Summit is a leading international platform for discussion on urban food policies, with a focus on sustainability, equity, inclusion and food justice.
Best4Food’s participation takes place within the framework of the proposal submitted by SMILY Academy, a Third Sector organisation engaged in international cooperation and in promoting sustainable eco-entrepreneurial models. The contribution presented at the Summit is centred on the theme: “Integrating Indigenous Food Systems into Urban Policies: Lessons from the Eastern Himalayas”. The aim is therefore to integrate the so-called “indigenous factor” into the food policies of major global cities – such as Milan, New York and Toronto – through a holistic approach that includes traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), agroecology, biodiversity, food education and community-based resilience models.
“Participation in the New York Summit represents an important international recognition of the work that Best4Food is carrying out on food systems innovation,” said the Centre’s Director, Professor Laura Prosperi. “Our contribution is part of a vision that brings together scientific research and traditional knowledge, with the aim of developing urban food policies that are more resilient, inclusive and evidence-based. Integrating indigenous knowledge into contemporary systems is essential if we are to address the global challenges linked to climate, food justice, health and food security. Food policies are indispensable climate and health strategies.”
This scientific approach also reflects, through this participation, an effective integration of expertise with non-profit and governmental organisations, thereby engaging with the ongoing transformations affecting global food systems. The project is also supported by G100, a global network of one million members, including Nobel Prize laureates and Heads of State.
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