There is a need for food systems to be "fair, healthy, and environment friendly," civil society organizations from across Asia and Europe said.

During the webinar dubbed, "Tech to Fork: Resisting the Neoliberal Domination in Agriculture amid COVID 19 and beyond," the participants raised the importance of having safe agricultural produce and thus amplified the need to switch to chemical-free and organic farming.

The webinar was held on Sunday, May 23 during the 13th biennial Asia Europe People’s Forum.

Jan Knook, an organic farmer from the Netherlands and a member of several organic farmer organizations such as Biohuis and BIO-NH, spoke about his experience with chemical-free, organic farming in comparison to the dominant industrial agriculture model in Europe.

“In the 90's there were groups of critical farmers who tried to use less pesticides. There were also study groups subsidized by the government who looked for ways to reduce pesticide use. They came into contact with organic farmers and decided to change traditional farms into organic farms,” Knook shared.

He stressed the importance of organizational and collective efforts in exploring these kinds of agricultural models. Having government support in the form of subsidies also wouldn't hurt.

Philippine legislator, Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Eufemia Cullamat, underscored the challenges that lawmakers like her have to face in exacting both government and corporate responsibility in connection with current agricultural policies.

"There is a need for the State to define how it should go about protecting and advancing the right of the people to a safe, poison-free agriculture; secure livelihoods; and a balanced healthy ecology in accordance with the rhythm and harmony of nature," said Cullamat, a member of the House Committee on Food and Agriculture.

Sylvia Mallari, co-chairperson of People’s Coalition on Food Sovereignty (PCFS), noted that "there's a battle today between those who want business-as-usual in food and agriculture and the movements fighting for just, equitable, healthy, and sustainable food systems." "We should agree on policies that put rights over profits, people over corporations, and our planet over greed,” Mallari said.

The forum was organized by the PCFS, IBON International Europe, the Council for People’s Development and Governance, Asia Pacific Research Network, MASIPAG, and SOLIDAGRO.

Representatives from civil society organizations, people’s movements, and parliamentarians from different parts of Asia and Europe took part in the event.