๐ Highlights from the CoFSA & Food Spirit Engagement Workshop ๐
๐ The final event of the Food Spirit project was held on March 2, 2025, with the goal of reconnecting ๐ฝ๏ธ food, ๐จโ๐ฉโ๐งโ๐ฆ people, and ๐ฟ ecosystems. It aimed to spark awareness and consciousness around tackling the intertwined crises of ๐ food insecurity, ๐ health issues, ๐ญ environmental degradation, and โ๏ธ social injustice.
๐ฏ Workshop Objectives ๐ฏ
โ
Explore the interconnections between food and multiple dimensions ๐๐
โ
Develop a process-oriented network with practical tools ๐ ๏ธ๐ก
โ
Link local practices with global systems through tangible examples ๐๏ธ๐
๐ In the morning, following the opening ceremony and a collective meditation, Frans Sujatirta ๐งโ๐ซ, Director of UID, guided participants through a reflective session based on the “Universe in a Bowl of Rice” series held during the 3-day Soul Connect Fest 2025 ๐ญ at Samyan Mitrtown. He framed the global situation as one of “crises within crises” ๐ฐ๐ โ but reminded us that we can still be part of building a better food system ๐ช๐ฅ.
๐ฅ Key Reflections from Discussions ๐ฅ
๐น Food, Family & Society ๐ก๐จโ๐ฉโ๐ฆ
๐ฒ Food is more than what we eat โ it carries wisdom and culture.
๐ฉโ๐ฉโ๐งโ๐ฆ Families play a key role in passing on food values.
๐ฑ Technology is reshaping consumption habits โ we must adapt mindfully.
๐น Cascading Crises in the Food System ๐จ๐ฝ๏ธ
๐ฑ Unsustainable systems affect both health and the environment ๐ญ๐ณ
๐ Global food trade impacts local economies and cultures ๐ฐ๐
๐ค Collaboration matters more than blame โ start with small changes โจ
๐น Food Spirit & Ecology ๐งโโ๏ธ๐
๐ก Food connects mind, nature, and human relationships ๐ค๐
๐ฟ Younger generations are waking up to the spiritual side of food ๐งโ๐พ
โป๏ธ Honoring food means using resources wisely and sustainably ๐
๐น Food as a Pathway to Learning & Change ๐โจ
๐ง Be open to questioning old knowledge ๐๐
๐ See the links between food, security, and nature ๐ฅ๐ฟ
๐ช Everyone can contribute through mindful choices, sharing knowledge, and collaboration ๐คฒ๐ฏ
๐ฌ In the afternoon, Thomas Legrand ๐ค, Technical Advisor to the CoFSA network (UNDP), introduced the network’s tools ๐ ๏ธ and invited everyone to co-create and exchange ideas ๐. This was followed by a World Cafรฉ session โ๏ธ where participants explored “Bringing Life Back to Food Systems” across 7 discussion groups:
๐ Conscious Organization Networking
๐ฅ Farmers & Sustainable Agriculture
๐ช Markets & Consumer Networks
๐ Policy Advocacy
๐ก Local Communities & Indigenous Wisdom
โป๏ธ Traditional Knowledge, Modern Science & Tech Challenges
โ๏ธ Empowerment for Food System Transformation
๐ Key Takeaway ๐: All groups emphasized the connection between food + life + consciousness + society ๐. Mindful consumption and sustainable farming were seen as essential solutions โ and cross-sector collaboration as the key to building a fairer food system.
The event ended with heartfelt thanks from Hans van Willenswaard, Advisor of the Food Spirit Project (supported by ThaiHealth), and Thomas Legrand ๐๏ธ. Gratitude was also extended to the ๐ POLECONCHULA & Social Research Institute of Chulalongkorn University for hosting this meaningful exchange, and to the ๐ก Food Spirit project for nurturing a conscious food system across Thailand and the region ๐.
๐ฌ โThough the world is full of challenges, we have the power to move forward into a better future.โ โจ๐
