Bhutan is hosting the world’s first “conscious food summit” in an effort to address growing threats to global food systems from climate change, biodiversity loss, conflict and food insecurity. The five-day gathering in the Himalayan kingdom’s Paro has brought together delegates from more than 60 countries, along with representatives of the United Nations, farmers, policymakers, mindfulness practitioners and experts in regenerative agriculture.
The summit is taking a broader approach to the global food crisis, arguing that increasing food production alone will not be enough to address the challenges facing humanity. Organisers say the world must reconsider its relationship with food and recognise the environmental, cultural and human values connected with how food is produced, distributed and consumed.
Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay has argued that the problems surrounding food are closely linked to several of the biggest challenges confronting the world today. Hunger, malnutrition, poverty, climate change, biodiversity loss and disruptions caused by geopolitical conflicts are increasingly interconnected, he said, making fundamental changes to food systems necessary.
According to Tobgay, the transformation required must involve both external changes to agriculture, markets, finance and public policy and an internal change in the way people think about food. He said greater awareness could encourage compassion, resilience, empathy and a stronger connection with nature, while stressing that spirituality should complement rather than replace science.
The summit comes at a time when climate-related disruptions are placing increasing pressure on food production worldwide. Extreme heat, drought, wildfires and other weather events have already damaged harvests in several regions. Concerns are also growing about the potential effects of a powerful El Niño event expected to influence weather patterns over the coming months and into next year. The World Food Programme has warned that the developing climate pattern could push tens of millions of people closer to starvation by disrupting food production and increasing pressure on staple food prices.
Recent disasters in the Himalayan region have further highlighted the vulnerability of communities to extreme weather. A devastating glacial collapse in neighbouring Nepal triggered floods and landslides, killing hundreds and leaving thousands missing. The disaster has added urgency to discussions about how countries can strengthen food and community resilience as climate-related risks intensify.
Participants at the Bhutan summit are promoting regenerative agriculture and Indigenous knowledge as important components of a more sustainable food system. Rather than concentrating solely on producing larger quantities of food, organisers want governments and institutions to consider whether farming practices are restoring soil, protecting water resources, reducing pollution and preserving biodiversity.
Jerry Spooner of Pacific-based organisation Regenerative Vanua said the combination of climate change, biodiversity loss, geopolitical instability and the prospect of a severe El Niño was exposing weaknesses in existing food systems. He argued that the priority should shift from simply producing more food towards building systems capable of restoring ecosystems, supporting communities, protecting cultural practices and improving resilience.
Tobgay also stressed that farmers and rural communities should have a greater role in shaping policies that affect them. He said decisions are too often made for farmers rather than with them, leaving them vulnerable to market fluctuations and wider economic forces.
The Bhutanese prime minister has also called for a change in attitudes towards food, which he believes has increasingly been treated merely as a commodity. He argued that this approach has contributed to waste, unhealthy consumption and a weakening of the relationship between people, farmers and the natural environment.
The concept of “conscious eating” promoted at the summit encourages people to pay greater attention to where their food comes from, how it is produced and the resources involved in bringing it to the table. Tobgay said many cultures already have traditions of pausing before meals, reflecting on the food and expressing gratitude, and that reviving such simple practices could encourage a broader change in attitudes.
The Bhutan summit therefore seeks to connect personal choices with wider environmental and social challenges. Its organisers believe that a more sustainable food system will require not only technological and policy solutions but also changes in values and behaviour.
With climate disruption expected to intensify pressure on food supplies, the meeting in Paro is positioning Bhutan as a forum for exploring a more holistic approach. Its central message is that creating resilient food systems will require governments, farmers, scientists, communities and consumers to rethink not just how food is produced, but also how society values and consumes it.
