The second United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS+4), organized in July by Ethiopia and Italy, became a key space to reflect on the transformation of food systems in a context marked by the acceleration of climate change.
A collaborative document for local and resilient systems
In this framework, two Italian scientific institutions —the Interdisciplinary Research Center on Sustainability and Climate of Pisa and the International Center for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies of Bari— coordinated the preparation of the document “Towards the Handbook of Local Food Systems and Sustainable and Resilient Supply Chains”.
This work involved scientists and leaders from around the world, under the auspices of the Alliance of Local Food Systems and Sustainable Supply Chains, an official coalition of the Summit.
The document recognizes local food systems, proximity supply chains, and community governance as fundamental pillars to advance towards sustainable, healthy, fair, and democratic models.
Criticisms of the industrial model and benefits of the local
The analysis highlights the benefits of local systems compared to global industrial agriculture, noted for its inability to guarantee the right to food and its contribution to problems such as:
- Climate change.
- Loss of biodiversity.
- Deforestation.
- Soil degradation.
In contrast, local systems strengthen resilience, reduce environmental impacts, and promote food sovereignty.
20 inspiring experiences in 10 countries
The document includes a survey of 20 experiences in 10 countries —Italy, India, Indonesia, Belgium, Mexico, Kenya, Tanzania, France, Tunisia, and Argentina— considered “inspiring practices” for the formation of virtuous food systems.
The Agroecological Colonies of the UTT in Argentina
Among the highlighted experiences are the Agroecological Colonies promoted by the Union of Land Workers (UTT).
The UTT was born in 2010 in Greater La Plata, as a response from farming families to high rental costs, low prices imposed by intermediaries, and poor working conditions of the conventional horticultural model, where migrant workers from the Bolivian community predominate.
The document details the experience of the UTT Agroecological Colony “20 de Abril – Darío Santillán”, located in Jáuregui, Luján district, which recently celebrated 10 years of history and was the first of its kind in Argentina.
Currently, the UTT has colonies in San Vicente, Cañuelas, Mercedes, Tapalqué, and Lezama, as well as Puerto Piray (Misiones), on lands obtained through agreements with municipalities, unions, and cooperatives.
Agroecological production and community organization
In the Jáuregui Colony, 50 horticultural families live and produce, who previously suffered from abusive rents and low prices. There, all production is agroecological, with collective infrastructures such as biofactories and community nurseries that allow them to produce their own inputs, reduce costs, and break dependence on commercial suppliers.
The UTT also organizes training workshops with leaders like Colombian agroecologist Jairo Restrepo, and collaborates with Argentine chefs to spread new recipes and ways of preparing their foods.
Benefits and openness to the community
The document highlights that the Colonies form short supply chains, where production is marketed through local and self-managed channels.
- Each family works between 1 and 2 hectares.
- Distribution and marketing are carried out cooperatively.
- No chemical inputs are used, and waste reuse is promoted.
- The food is healthier and tastier.
Additionally, the Colony is open to the public: it receives consumers in its Community Store on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and organizes educational visits for students, researchers, and the general public.
The experience of the UTT in Argentina demonstrates that local and agroecological food systems are a viable and transformative alternative to the industrial model.
Its inclusion in the UNFSS+4 document reinforces the importance of replicating and strengthening these practices to advance towards a more just, resilient, and sustainable food future.
