Towards a Unified Local and Global Food System Approach
Iziko supports the Human Sciences Research Council.
By Dr Wayne Florence – Director Research and Exhibitions
The recent HSRC One Food Social Sciences Workshop, held under the theme Emerging Contributions of the Human and Social Sciences to a Unified One Food Approach, marked a significant step forward in the conversation about how we can tackle the interconnected challenges facing local and global food systems. Over the course of the workshop, experts and participants from a variety of disciplines and nationalities came together to explore the critical role human and social sciences play in achieving sustainable and equitable food systems. Iziko’s, Dr Wayne Florence (Director of Research and Exhibitions) and Ms Annelize Kotze (Curator of Social History) represented the heritage sector in this critical workshop.
The One Food approach aims to unify health, nutrition, environmental sustainability, and social equity within food systems. Traditionally, much of the discourse around food security has focused on agricultural production and environmental science. However, the workshop highlighted the importance of integrating human and social sciences to deepen our understanding of food systems, exploring the cultural, behavioural, and institutional factors that affect food security.
Participants emphasized the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, agreed definitions and explored categories, as well as the role of local communities in shaping food systems that are more inclusive. By engaging deeply with communities, understanding their traditions, and examining the socio-economic dynamics at play, we can develop food policies that not only ensure access to nutritious food but also support cultural diversity and local economies.
Key Takeaways from the Workshop
The workshop highlighted several key areas where human and social sciences are making substantial contributions:
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration: By integrating social science insights with natural sciences, we can better address food insecurity, inequality, and sustainability.
- Community Engagement: Understanding local food traditions and cultures, behaviours, and values helps shape more inclusive food systems.
- Policy Advocacy: Social scientists are essential in influencing food policy at all levels, helping to advocate for policies that remove barriers to food access while promoting sustainability.
- Behavioural Change: Human behaviour is at the heart of transforming food systems. Education and cultural shifts are critical in promoting sustainable consumption patterns.
As the workshop drew to a close, it was clear that the One Food approach is more than a concept—it is a call to action. Participants left with a sense of renewed purpose, determined to continue pushing boundaries in research, policy, community of practice and to harvest the gains made. By including the insights from human and social sciences, and leveraging resources such as social sciences data, we can reshape food systems to nourish not just individuals, but entire communities. Measuring the impact will require appropriate agreed measurables that are pertinent for South Africa!
The Workshop underscored the urgency of adopting a holistic approach to food systems, where science, culture, and history intersect. In his closing address Dr Florence stressed that one of the future discussions must centre around the value of heritage data housed in institutions like Iziko Museums of South Africa. Historical records, indigenous knowledge systems, and cultural artifacts, related to food production and consumption, provide rich insights into how communities have interacted with their environments and food sources over time. These institutions offer a repository of information that is foundational to inform decision making towards contemporary food strategies.
“Studying traditional farming methods preserved in heritage data can help rediscover sustainable practices lost to industrial farming. Likewise, understanding food’s role in cultural identity over centuries can inform more inclusive food policies today.”
Dr Wayne Florence, Director Research and Exhibitions
Museums like Iziko safeguard valuable data and engage the public. Iziko’s 200-year-old collections educate communities and policymakers on the deep historical links between food, culture, and the environment, fostering a more holistic understanding of food systems. As we move forward, the collaboration between disciplines and the engagement of communities will be key to building food systems that are resilient, just, and inclusive for all.
