South African FLEAT Community Focuses On Food & Climate Justice

SAFCEI’s second South African cohort of its Faith Leaders Environmental Advocacy Training (FLEAT) came together on 8, 9 and 10 October 2024 to make the connections between agroecological principles and climate justice. The 28 faith and community leaders from 7 South African provinces have undertaken a five-month learning journey focused on agroecological principles and practices, resulting in them activating eco-actions around the country. These eco-actions ranged from regreening and regenerating landscapes to hosting discussions around food security in their communities.

This three-day workshop was an opportunity to link their acquired knowledge about agroecology to the pressing issue of climate justice, a core focus of SAFCEI’s work. The workshop used both expert presentations and group work to unpack both food and climate aspects by examining South Africa’s plan for a just energy transition.

Faith leaders spent day 1 sharing about the diversity of eco-actions they had undertaken in their communities and recapping their understanding of agroecological principles. The day finished with a reflection on the mandate of faith leaders to bring about large-scale change following prompts about ‘what does your faith say’ and ‘what can you do’.

On day 2, expert practitioners from SAFCEI provided insights into South Africa’s Just Energy Transition strategy, outlining key opportunities and challenges. In addition, Jacqueline van Meygaarden from Mycelium Media Colab hosted a discussion around climate justice after screening an excerpt from Temperature Rising. This documentary, which Jacqueline co-directed, follows the journey of Southern African climate activists to highlight the need for urgent action on this matter.

Participants spent time in groups to map out the energy challenges in their community, and to explore the various stakeholder perspectives on the climate crisis through a debate. As groups, they researched and then presented the perspectives of government, private sector, civil society and communities through a debate on the extension of life for the Koeberg nuclear power station in Cape Town.

On day 3, three exciting speakers presented on the various interlinkages between food and climate justice. Siphiwe Sithole, founder and managing director of African Marmalade since 2015, is a custodian and supplier of indigenous crops, a public inspirer, coach in natural farming and a continental aggregator. She spoke about the urgent need to revive interest in local foods, and the health benefits of doing so. Florian Kroll, a researcher at the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security and a PhD candidate at the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies at the University of the Western Cape, spoke to specific legislative, legal or administrative mechanisms that ensure sustainable local food systems.

The workshop concluded with Claire Roussel, a food systems researcher, who presented on the findings of the research she conducted for SAFCEI on the role of indigenous foods in a transition to sustainable food system, and the interlinkages with climate change. A seed swap was held as a closing activity. The faith leaders evaluated the training workshop expressing appreciation for the opportunity to share experiences and lessons together.