NOMAD FoodLab Actions at the UN World Food Forum 2022
Under the 2022 theme “Healthy Diets. Healthy Planet.”, the World Food Forum (WFF) took place from 17 to 21 October 2022 at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, Italy.
More than 50 Indigenous Peoples’ leaders, chefs and artists from seven regions of the world took part in the global discussions for the future of food, youth action, science and innovation. The World Reindeer Herders (WRH) and International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry (ICR) participated in the Forum and also brought the NOMAD Arctic Indigenous Peoples’ Innovation FoodLab to Rome. The NOMAD FoodLab hosted different activities led by Indigenous Peoples and supported by FAO to share knowledge and influence the policy debate on the transformation of food systems. The NOMAD FoodLab became the venue for some of the WFF sessions and the main kitchen for Indigenous chefs from different regions to present their traditional foods at the WFF 2022. The event also served to raise awareness for the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, designated by the UN General Assembly for 2026.
On the first day of the WFF, NOMAD FoodLab was officially opened by FAO Director General QU Dongyu with the Norwegian Ambassador to FAO Morten von Hanno Aasland and WRH Secretary General, ICR Director Anders Oskal and Vice chair of WRH/ICR Inger Anita Smuk. The opening was followed by a WRH/ICR reception with dishes from reindeer meat and reindeer products prepared by the NOMAD FoodLab chef team. Reindeer delicacies and more Arctic Indigenous Peoples’ traditional dishes were also later cooked for two more receptions in Rome, where participants of the WFF emptied all the dishes presented.
Among many different WFF sessions, the NOMAD FoodLab co-hosted the launch of the Coalition on Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems, the launch of the Indigenous Youth Campaign and the Indigenous Food Innovation Session arranged by the Nord University Business School (NUBS) together with ICR, aimed for Indigenous youth with a special interest for food and entrepreneurship. The NOMAD FoodLab was also hosting evening cultural programmes for participants of the Forum led by Indigenous leaders and artists.