The National Family Farm Coalition is a long-time advocate of food sovereignty. As declared at the 2007 Forum for Food Sovereignty in Nyéléni:

“Food sovereignty is the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems. It puts the aspirations and needs of those who produce, distribute and consume food at the heart of food systems and policies rather than the demands of markets and corporations. It defends the interests and inclusion of the next generation. It offers a strategy to resist and dismantle the current corporate trade and food regime, and directions for food, farming, pastoral and fisheries systems determined by local producers and users. Food sovereignty prioritises local and national economies and markets and empowers peasant and family farmer-driven agriculture, artisanal – fishing, pastoralist-led grazing, and food production, distribution and consumption based on environmental, social and economic sustainability. Food sovereignty promotes transparent trade that guarantees just incomes to all peoples as well as the rights of consumers to control their food and nutrition. It ensures that the rights to use and manage lands, territories, waters, seeds, livestock and biodiversity are in the hands of those of us who produce food. Food sovereignty implies new social relations free of oppression and inequality between men and women, peoples, racial groups, social and economic classes and generations.”

Based on our advocacy of food sovereignty, including the “… transparent trade that guarantees just incomes to all peoples as well as the rights of consumers to control their food and nutrition” we heartily support the right of people to know what is in their food, including genetically modified organisms. We stand with our members Rural Vermont, NOFA-VT and others that have passed legislation mandating GMOs to be labeled, and oppose legislation that would enable food processors to hide GM ingredients in their products, such as S. 2609, Senator Roberts’ DARK Act. GMO labels should be mandatory, not voluntary. Period.