Food insecurity, climate change, biodiversity loss, and chemical pollution: Whilst it is widely acknowledged that we urgently need to transform our food systems to ensure our common future on this planet, too little is known about the countries or states that take fundamental steps towards that aim.

On the occasion of World Food Day 2021, the World Future Council and the Pesticide Action Network Asia and Pacific are organising a timely debate on how exemplary policies drive positive change. The webinar will explore how such policies push for sustainable and healthy agri-food systems, addressing multiple crises at once and bringing about results that are worth of replication.

This online event is dedicated to discuss impactful policies that scale up agroecology and protect from hazardous chemicals. In particular, it will present award-winning policies from the Indian state of Sikkim, which became the first 100% organic state in the world (Future Policy Gold Award 2018), and from Sri Lanka, whose pesticide regulations led to one of the greatest decreases in suicide rates ever achieved in the world (Future Policy Special Award 2021).

The following active discussion will include forward thinkers from across the globe who will debate on the way forward:

Speakers:

• Mr Helmy Abouleish, Chief Executive Officer of the SEKEM Initiative, Egypt, and Councillor of the World Future Council (Moderator, confirmed)
• Mr Sundar Anbalagan, Chief Executive Officer of the Sikkim Organic Farming Development Agency, Government of Sikkim, India (confirmed)
• Dr. Hans Herren, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Institute, USA, President of Biovision Foundation, Member of IPES-Food and Councillor of the World Future Council (confirmed)
• Kehkashan Basu, Founder and President of the Green Hope Foundation, Canada, and Councillor of the World Future Council (confirmed)
• Ms Sarojeni Rengam, Executive Director, Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PANAP) (confirmed)
• Mr Baogen Gu, Senior Agricultural Officer for Pest and Pesticide Management at the Plant Production and Protection Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (confirmed)
• Mr Gábor Figeczky, Senior Manager of Global Policy, IFOAM – Organics International (confirmed)

The webinar is part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, which aims to accelerate action for the protection and restoration of ecosystems all around the world, for the benefit of people and nature.