The United Nations Food Systems Summit (the Summit) will take place during the meeting of the UN General Assembly in September 2021 in New York. In the lead up to the Summit, a series of dialogues are being hosted by governments and independent groups. A key focus of the dialogues is to build momentum and awareness of food system issues up to and beyond the Summit.

The Ministry for Primary Industries is hosting three National Dialogues on behalf of the New Zealand Government. The dialogues will be facilitated by an independent facilitator, food systems expert Emily King.

The dialogues aim to bring together food system stakeholders and will contribute to a national conversation on Aotearoa New Zealand’s priorities for our food system. They are a forum to discuss the challenges and opportunities of Aotearoa New Zealand’s context and consider what the Summit could achieve both domestically and for the global food system. The dialogues aim to welcome a diverse range of perspectives and knowledge on food systems to inform the national and international discussion.

The National Dialogues will focus on sustainable production, reducing food loss and waste, and ensuring wellbeing from food for all Aotearoa New Zealanders. Guest speakers will set the food scene for us and will be announced shortly. Information on the agenda and the format of the dialouges will also be provided shortly.

National Dialogue format

Key topics affecting our food system will be discussed in breakout discussions consisting of 8 people per group. The outcomes of our discussion will contribute to Aotearoa New Zealand’s domestic work on food systems and will provide information to contribute to our international position on food systems.

Given the format of the dialogues there is limited space with attendance limited at 70 participants per dialogue. This is to enable meaningful discussions for all participants. For each organisation, please ensure that there is no more than one participant represented at the dialogues.

Please sign up for one event only.

The online events are on Zoom, free, and are invite only due to limited capacity.

The in person event is at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington. This is free and also invite only.

You need to secure your seat in advance via Eventbrite ticketing. Places are limited so please get in early as the dialogues will fill up fast. The Zoom link will be emailed to all confirmed participants via email the day before the event.

Discussion themes

The dialogues have been designed to support diverse participation and to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi / the Treaty of Waitangi and te ao Māori. The topics to be discussed (one per breakout room) consist of the following themes:

1. Sustainable blue production systems: transforming fisheries and aquaculture to achieve environmental, social and economic sustainability.

2. Sustainable production systems on land: transforming farming and growing to achieve environmental, social and economic sustainability.

3. Wellbeing from food for all New Zealanders:

- Nutritional health for everyone.

- People are enabled to express their identity, choose their preferences and build connections through food.

- Everyone can access and afford healthy food.

4. Food loss and waste: Businesses and consumers reduce food waste.

If you have any questions, please get in contact at UNFSS.National.Dialogues@mpi.govt.nz

Please sign up for one event only.