Food and nutrition play a critical role in human development as well as environmental sustainability. Seed is the genesis of all food systems and is perceived differently depending on cultural, social, economic and religious. Seed is highly significant in determining our heritage and in the natural environment is considered to have a lot of cultural and religious attachments and rituals.

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Food is central to human health and national development. Zambia as a country is endowed with 72 tribes, each with its particular food types and consumption patterns. Food is part of most cultural ceremonies and everyday life. Because of certain foods communities are connected to their history, culture and way of life. However, there has been an erosion of the consumption and appreciation of local seeds and foods due to modernization which has brought into play western culinary cousin. This is more to do with cultural erosion.

 

Production of Food in Zambia is highly influenced by both traditional and conventional systems. These systems are shaped by the structure of the agricultural policies, influence of direct foreign investments and global food trade and logistics. The majority of Zambians in the rural areas depend on their own foods while most of those in the urban areas are supplied by the rural areas and imported foods. The food and agricultural sector also generates’ livelihoods for local communities and provides opportunities for employment.

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The food production system has a plays a significant role in the way food reaches the table and how selective the consumers tend to be. According to the World Food Programme in Zambia, “smallholders are the country’s largest population of food producers. They are responsible for up to 90 percent of the food produced in Zambia, with women accounting for about 80 percent”1. At the same time however, at least 50% of Zambians are chronically hungry. Stunting rates amongst children remain at an unacceptable 35% - and come with lifelong and intergenerational consequences (WFP Zambia, 2020).

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From a development perspective, recognising and supporting smallholders, particularly women, who produce diverse food for household and local market consumption, is an undeniable imperative. Food production and consumption impacts almost all other national development objectives. As the Stockholm Resilience Centre shows, unless there is a radical transition to a more sustainable food system, the world will largely fail on every other Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) commitment.

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The modern food system, that includes production and its inputs, transport, trade, processing, marketing, consumption and waste, is the biggest contributor to global ecological degradation, land-use change and unsustainable consumption, that is driving climate change and poor health. Zambia’s farmers have already witnessed the effects of changing weather patterns and increased desertification. Unsustainable agricultural production mechanisms that are based on external inputs, chemicals and monocrop production of ‘empty calories’ is further driving the broad negative impacts of climate change in Zambia.

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Presently, food production systems and the environment are engaged in a mutually damaging relationship. In Zambia Agriculture and food processing systems are degrading the environment through greenhouse gas production, pesticide use, soil erosion and water depletion as well as energy intensive production methods. The same systems that put our health at risk also have a devastating impact on environmental health. In a vicious circle, environmental degradation is also reducing the quality of basic nutrients. In addition, the current agricultural policies are not doing enough to prioritise measures that would achieve productivity and reduce poverty especially among rural populations.

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Other natural and man induced calamities have compromised the food production system, unless these are tackled, the most vulnerable members of society will continue to face hunger, food and nutrition insecurity as well as poverty. This calls for a robust policy environment which supports a sustainable food system of production that will be reliable and usable for now and for the future.

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This years seed and food festival whose theme is “Food Sovereignty through Indigenous Seeds and Food “will bring together civil society organization, farmers organization, private sector and government to appreciate the role/s that a sustainable seed and food system can play at national and regional level and help attain some of the national aspirations and leaving no one behind.

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The 2022 Zambian seed and food festival will run with the following objectives:

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Celebrate farmers’ knowledge and raise public awareness about the contribution that traditional seed and foods and their management systems make towards community cohesion, national food and nutrition security, and long-term public health and well- being,

Raise public awareness about sustainable production, marketing and consumption through the lens of Agroecology, and its central role in shaping Zambia’s development capacity, attainment of the aligned SDGs as well as climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies

Draw attention to critical and timely Zambian policy and legislative frameworks that influence the transition to a sustainable food system and, Outline some forms of seed and food preservation as well as food preparation for a healthy diet.

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The process leading to the event

The proposed dates for the Zambian seed and food festival will be 14th October 2022. However, a number of events will be organized that will lead to the final climax event.