"Food sovereignty is the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems.
It puts those who produce, distribute and consume food at the heart of food systems and policies rather than the demands of markets and corporations.
It defends the interests and inclusion of the next generation.
It offers a strategy to resist and dismantle the current corporate trade and food regime, and directions for food, farming, pastoral and fisheries systems determined by local producers.
Food sovereignty prioritises local and national economies and markets and empowers peasant and family farmer-driven agriculture, artisanal – fishing, pastoralist-led grazing, and food production, distribution and consumption based on environmental, social and economic sustainability.
Food sovereignty promotes transparent trade that guarantees just income to all peoples and the rights of consumers to control their food and nutrition.
It ensures that the rights to use and manage our lands, territories, waters, seeds, livestock and biodiversity are in the hands of those of us who produce food.
Food sovereignty implies new social relations free of oppression and inequality between men and women, peoples, racial groups, social classes and generations."
This is from the DECLARATION OF NYÉLÉNI which was written in 2007 by those gathered in Sélingué, Mali. The PDF of the full declaration can be found here.