Pastoralism and food sovereignty: struggles for land, livelihoods and recognition

Pastoral systems are globally significant for their invaluable contributions to food systems and socio-economic and environmental well-being. Their deep interconnection with land, livelihood, and cultural practices aligns with the tenets of food sovereignty, but they remain peripheral in its research and debates. To acknowledge pastoral contributions and struggles, this paper draws on cases from the Global South to shed light on the overlapping issues affecting pastoral livelihoods vis-a-vis their food sovereignty, such as rights over resources including land, water and livestock, climate stress, expansion of capital and industrial production, dynamics of class and labor, and marginalization in policy processes. The main objective is to make a case for the integration of pastoral issues into the food sovereignty movement (FSM) and Nyéléni Forum. Recognizing pastoral agency in producing quality food with low environmental impact, especially across the territories characterized by uncertainty and variability, offers valuable opportunities for cross-learning and broadening the scope of FSM.