Transforming Food Systems in India
A Remarkable Journey
One of the most exhilarating aspects of my work has been collaborating with cities in India. It all began with Pune, a vibrant city in the state of Maharashtra, and later extended to partnering with the FSSAI (Food Standards and Safety Authority of India) to launch the Eat Smart Cities Challenge. This initiative empowers cities to craft healthier, more sustainable food policies and take concrete actions related to food safety, health, and sustainability.
My personal connection to India dates back to my early years when I first set foot in the country at the age of one. During those two years, I had the privilege of learning both Punjabi and Hindi. Punjabi was spoken with our grandparents who were farmers in Rajasthan, as well as with family in Punjab. Hindi, on the other hand, was the language of choice with our friends in the city. Regrettably, my proficiency in Punjabi has faded over time, and my Hindi-speaking abilities have dwindled to just a few sentences. However, spurred by our ongoing work, I've decided to rekindle my efforts and even dabble in Sanskrit, though a wise food systems Professor friend suggested focusing on a more practical language.
Our journey in Pune was set in motion by recommendations from contacts at DFID and the Tata Trusts, who saw this dynamic and youthful city as an ideal starting point. You can find a summary of the project on the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities website. At the time, Shri Kunal Kumar, the CEO of Pune, played a pivotal role in supporting our project. He had conducted research on community food initiatives during his MBA at Harvard, which made him particularly enthusiastic about our work. Subsequently, Kunal was appointed Chief of the Smart Cities Mission. About two years ago, after securing additional funding from FCDO, I proposed the idea of expanding our efforts by collaborating with FSSAI. This led to the birth of the "Eat Smart Cities Challenge." Notably, Eat Right India had been one of the finalists in the Rockefeller Food Vision competition. The Challenge represented the first instance, to my knowledge, of a national government incorporating food into the sustainable urban development agenda—an accomplishment aligned with our vision when we established BINDI.
Throughout the past year, we guided city participants in Pune to delve into food systems. We also introduced them to the MUFPP Secretariat. During the competition phase, cities were tasked with crafting food action plans and vision statements. Out of the participating cities, 11 finalists emerged, and they were all invited to a meeting in Birmingham on the eve of the Commonwealth Games in July 2022.
Ms. Inoshi Sharma, leading at FSSAI, expressed her desire to extend participation to the district level in India. The MUFPP Secretariat is enthusiastic about organizing a side-event during the G20 summit, which India is hosting in 2023. Planning for this event will commence soon. Additionally, on a local level, a WM-India partnership exists, although food systems currently aren't a focal point. Nonetheless, we are eager to raise awareness of our work among those involved in attracting investment to the region. This UK-India partnership centered on food systems feels like it's only just begun, and the potential for learning and knowledge exchange is immense.
Recently, my Aunt returned from a summer in India and shared images of our family farm. She mentioned their plans to explore organic farming methods, and I eagerly await the developments on that front. The journey continues, and it's an exciting time for our partnership and the positive changes it can bring to India's food systems.