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Report from the 2002 World Food Summit: Day 3

Dr. Peter Rosset
June 12, 2002

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Empowerment from a "Multi-Stakeholder Dialog?"

Rome--Today was the second-to-last day of the World Food Summit. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) were given a chance to respond to the draft text of the official summit declaration to be signed by participating governments. It was also the day for the long-awaited "Multi-Stakeholder Dialog" (MSD), in which CSOs from around the world would get a chance to debate governments in the infamous "Green Room" inside the official summit.

The MSD was organized so that the CSOs (farmer, pastoralist, fisher, worker, indigenous peoples', womens' organizations, and NGOs) were grouped into seven regions of the world. Each region chose a presenter for their lead intervention, followed by responses from governments, and afterwards came an open discussion.

As each region made their initial presentation, a consensus was apparent among the diverse CSOs on the causes of and solutions to hunger. Food First was chosen to lead the presentation from North America. Food First criticized the unilaterialism of the USA around the world and in this summit, especially regarding the way the U.S. delegation has tried to force GMOs down the throats of other countries.

The silence of the governments got the MSD off to a slow start. This angered the CSO's, as the MSD was not supposed to be a forum for the CSO's to converse with themselves. Yet eventually -- after severe crticism from the co-chair, the Norwegian Minister of State -- governments did jump in. As usual, the USA held firm on the most nefarious of points -- further free trade policies and more GMOs.

As the debate went on, governments began to perceive a pattern. People's organizations throughout the world see free trade and privatization as the primary causes of hunger, and believe true land reform, support for local markets, and agroecological production practices are key solutions. Despite the slow start, the MSD finished with a feeling of empowerment for the CSOs; a feeling that stemmed from an understanding that all the groups that make up the CSO's are no longer alone in this struggle for a better world.