What’s eating… MVR
A Rambunctious Ratatouille

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) is a famous film story of pure heart, testing the bonds of family, friend- and relationships, and showing the importance of understanding the struggles in life. This blog series is a play on that, allowing HFHP members to share what has been eating their mind, body and soul.

The first couple of blogs will be from Marinke van Riet or in short MVR in her role as HFHP’s new Director. But if you have anything eating you, don’t hesitate, but ventilate. In this month’s blog MVR shares what HFHP has cooked up for her in in April, her second month: a Rambunctious Ratatouille.

Ratatouille (/ˌratəˈtuːi,ˌratəˈtwiː/) derived from ratatolha a word in Occitan (old Roman language) and related to the French ratouiller and tatouiller, expressive forms of the verb touiller, meaning “to stir up”. From the late 18th century, in French, it merely indicated a coarse stew.

Rambunctious (/ramˈbʌŋ(k)ʃəs/) uncontrollably exuberant; boisterous.

This April we launched the results of a survey into the CSO landscape in the world of healthy and sustainable diets in Europe which HFHP commissioned in 2021. We wanted to find out more about the perspectives, priorities and visions of CSOs working in this space. Whether focusing on public health or animal welfare, rural development or the climate, and often joining the dots in between, the participating CSOs offer a plurality of visions, voices and understandings of food environments, and how we might best nourish it in more sustainable, equitable and nutritious ways.

While reading the incredibly rich anthology of voices, which I encourage everyone to read, I could not help but think of a ratatouille, and a rambunctious one while at it! Ratatouille reminds me of my childhood, a dish my father (yes!) stirred up once in a while. Rich in vegetables and spices, it stirs up many senses and emotions, the same way that ‘Less and Better’ is described in the summary as stirring up a multitude of emotions – good and bad. Add to that the fact that the survey was done over six months ago, and with the Russian invasion into Ukraine two months ago, seems to make the ‘ less’ component more challenging for some. Others would argue the ‘better’ part is the uniting factor, as there is huge appetite to replace #extractivefarming and #cheapmeat.  Yet others say, we need to focus on the good alternatives people will be eating, replacing excessive animal sourced foods, and yet another stream in the movement are rightly concerned if we don’t always demand “less” companies and governments will just take the easier option of “better” animal sourced foods and fail to focus on what is needed, food contributing to instead of harming the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. I am keen to work with CSOs who want to test a more positive and hopeful narrative lens, which in these uncertain times may appeal to more people. In my previous role as leader of Voice, a grant facility for diversity, equity and inclusion, we adopted a hope-based narrative, focusing on the world we do want, rather than fighting against what we don’t. Could a similar approach offer a window of opportunity for HFHP?

In many ways the month of April emerged as one big Rambunctious Ratatouille for me. I have had so many conversations and face-to-face meetings with groups in the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Portugal, France, the UK and Spain, listened to many podcasts, read even more articles and reports and participated in many workshops and events – both on- and offline. For example, I listened to Tobias Leenaerts, founder of ProVeg International and an effective altruist, who is embracing a pragmatic approach to reducing animal-source foods. He states that increasing the number of days flexitarians don’t eat meat has more impact on ASF reduction than focusing on increasing the percentage of vegans by 1%. I joined the Academy of the Physicians Association for Nutrition and their great course on the Power of Nutrition focusing on the relationship between food and health, opened a new world to me!

I also attended the first meeting of the Voedselraad (‘food council’) in The Hague (where I live), which is an interdisciplinary coalition of the willing to ensure that healthy and sustainable food environments are high on the local political agenda. Here I learned about the RE-ADJUSTool (REflecting on & ADvancing Justice in Urban food Strategies Tool), a multi-stakeholder engagement tool that was used to structure the evening.

I joined the Transitie Coalitie Voedsel or the Food Transition Coalition in the Netherlands, a coalition of 200 local groups that managed to get the new government to adopt a 50/50% balance between plant-based and animal- source foods by 2030 and an ambition of 60%-40%. Their online discussion between farmers and other stakeholders with the Minister of Nature and Nitrogen was well attended. And I participated in 20-minute flash workshops of the Inspiration Factory, targeted at providing healthy meals at schools and learned about the potential and limitations of ‘positive nudging’ to influence behaviour – although acknowledge that that is only a small component in healthy food environments. Behavourial change is also the goal of the new campaign of the World Resources Institute and their #coolfoodmeals partners, showing that small actions can have a big impact. Have a look at I give a fork!

A meeting with Lighthouse Reports showed the importance of investigative journalism to extract the truth in the food sector. Their Europe-wide investigation called Invisible Workers revealed modern slavery conditions for migrant workers on Europe’s farms at the height of pandemic. Such work is incredibly important to advance on the lever of strategic litigation.

And finally, I complimented the Spanish collective Ecologistas en Acción de la Región Murciana on their collective work to have one of the biggest fresh water lagoons Mar Menor on its way to be declared a legal personality – a first and potential game-changer.

That brings us almost back to France -by train- not only the birth place of the ratatouille but much more importantly the place where Reseau Action Climat France will be co-organising a series of workshops in June to engage the health sector, titled Quelle Alimentation pour la Santé et la Planète ?

On to May!

PS: Join us for B(re)aking Bread on May 4th to explore more social justice issues in the food sector with British group BiteBack 2030,  the German collective Aktion Agrar and the Dutch community group City Oasis.