The Sustainable Development Goals have neglected the consideration of food as a fully-fledged human rights and thus they treat it as a simple commodity. We analyse the consequences of that political agreement and the US and EU stances vis a vis the right to food. Finally, we recommend a re-consideration of food as a right, a commons and a public good to achieve the Zero Hunger Goal by 2030.

1. Food is not a
right in the
UN-agreed SDGs
Just a commodity…
The EU position analysed
Summary of BMJ Global Health paper
Vivero-Pol & Schuftan (2016). No right to food
and nutrition in the SDGs: mistake or success?
JOSE LUIS VIVERO POL
PhD Research Fellow
in Food Governance

2. Food is not a right in SDGs
Water & Sanitation are rights however

3. 1st paragraph of SDGs vision:
• (Para 7) In these Goals and targets, we are setting out a supremely
ambitious and transformational vision. We envisage a world free of
poverty, hunger, disease and want, where all life can thrive. We
envisage a world free of fear and violence.
• A world with UNIVERSAL LITERACY. A world with equitable and
UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION AT ALL LEVELS,
TO HEALTHCARE AND SOCIAL PROTECTION, where physical,
mental and social well-being are assured.
• A world where we reaffirm our commitments regarding the
HUMAN RIGHT TO SAFE DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
and where there is improved hygiene; and WHERE FOOD IS
SUFFICIENT, SAFE, AFFORDABLE AND NUTRITIOUS. A world
where human habitats are safe, resilient and sustainable and
where there is universal access to affordable, reliable and
sustainable energy. (emphasis added)

4. • Pasamos de la “Seguridad Alimentaria
existe cuando…” a “la realización de un
derecho…”,
Leyes de SAN de Guatemala y Brasil (2005 y 2006)
• De “situación” a “derecho”, que se ha de
garantizar (por el Estado) y se puede exigir
(por los ciudadanos)
• El DA está desarrollándose desde hace 20
años (PIDESC), luego su reconocimiento
en los países y ahora con la justiciabilidad.Same LEGAL CONSIDERATION &
LEVEL OF PROTECTION than
Right not to be tortured or freedom of speech
Foto:SandeepThukal

5. Opponents to the RtF
in SDGs negotiations
No
signatories
of ICESCR
Signatories
of ICESCR

7. Agri-Food Corporations regard Food as a
commodity, a source of profit

8. US position:
« Opportunity » to
secure food
« Aspiration » to be
realised progressively
No international or
domestic obligation or
legal entitlement
Linked to « right to
standard of living » &
not to « right to life »)

9. EUROPE
Double standard: supporting
abroad, reluctant at home

10. The Right to Food for “the others”
(Global South & Developing Countries)
• The Commission has
expressed its support to
‘right to food-based
political and legal
frameworks’ in
developing countries, as
well as establishing and
strengthening redressal
mechanisms
Source: Increasing the impact of EU
Development Policy: an agenda for change.
Communication from the Commission to the
Council and the European Parliament. COM
/2011/0637 Final. European Commission, 2011.
• The European Parliament
has taken a similar
position regarding the
relevance of the right to
food to address food
security challenges in
developing countries
Source: Assisting developing countries in
addressing food security challenges. Resolution of
27 September 2011, (2010/2100). European
Parliament, 2011.

11. Countries supporting RtF
Few countries
investing in the
Right to Food

12. Food Insecurity (unability to eat meat
every second day): 10.9%.
13.5 M people
2.7% increase since austerity
measures
30 M Malnutrition
(Transmango Project)
12

13. • 123 M poor EU people
(1/4) (Oxfam, 2015)
• 50 M severe material
deprivation: food,
water…(EUROSTAT, 2015)
• 2009-15, + 7.5 M
poor
• 30-40% children (6
EU members) below
poverty line (UNICEF, 2014)
• Increasing children
at school with no
breakfast (UK,
Netherlands, Spain)

14. Food Insecurity is on the rise in Europe
Loosptra et al., (2015). The Lancet 385, DOI: (10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60983-7)

15. Loosptra et al., (2016). Preventive Medicine 89

16. No RtF in EU: How is that possible?
• NOT in European Social Charter (1961, 1996) for Council of
Europe members
• NOT in EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (2000)
• NOT in European Convention on Human Rights (1950 + 7
protocols)
• NOT in any EU constitution
• Proposal in Belgium: National Food Policy Council including
whole food chain (Eggen, 2014)
• Regional Law on Right to Food in Lombardia (Italy)
• Proposal in Spain: RtF in Constitution
• European Citizen´s Initiative + EP: water as human right +
commons
• Universal Food Coverage (non-existing)

17. HUNGER IN UK
17

18. 18
EU Food Charity
Non universal
Non accountable
Non demandable
No right holders
and duty bearers
Money-restricted
3.8 Billion € in
7 years

19. Possible explanations
Dominant ideological stance that sees food as a
private good (excludable & rival) that is thus better
distributed by market-based rules rather than rights-
based schemes
As a commodity, food access is exclusively
guaranteed by purchasing power or charitable
schemes (non accountable)

20. 20

21. No mention to
food as vital need
No food as cultural
determinant
Food as opportunity for
trade, innovation, health,
wealth & geopolitics (p.34)
No food as
human right
21

22. JRC Report Recommendations
1. Food products liberalised
2. Food safety standards more stringent
3. Demand-driven, market-supplied
4. “Feeding the World = Feeding the cities”
(70% of hungry people are rural producers)
22

23. Paradigm Barriers
• Food as a human right (moral) collides
with food as a commodity (amoral)
• Food not considered a public good (Vivero, 2015)
• Other ESCR (health, education, water) are
considered public goods & they have
progressed as enforceable rights

24. Proposals
for an EU
COMMONS
FOOD
POLICY
24

25. To guarantee school
meals for all students in
public schools
25

26. To support local purchase
(small farming, agro-
ecology & cooperatives) to
satisfy food needs of
municipal premises
26

27. Stricter & innovative rules to
avoid food waste
To recycle all expired food (i.e. France)
Supporting citizens´ collective actions to
reduced waste,
promote food sharing
and co-producing
27

28. Shifting from charitable food
(Food Banks) to food as right
(Universal Food Coverage)
A food bank network that is
universal, accountable, compulsory
and not voluntary, random, targeted
28

29. Compulsory rooftop
greening for every
new building
(with edibles, non-edibles)
29

30. Establishing bakeries
where every citizen
can get access to a
bread loaf every day
(if needed or willing to)
30

31. Encourage Food Policy
Councils (open membership
to citizens) through
participatory democracies,
financial seed capital and
enabling laws31

32. Set target for food provisioning in
2030
(Food Council)
• 60% private sector
• 25% self-production (collective
actions)
• 15% state-provisioning (public
buildings, destitute people,
unemployed families) through
Universal Food Coverage
32