World Social Forum 2026: Future of food is not built in boardrooms – it's grown in fields
4–8 August 2026 | Cotonou, Benin
As the World Social Forum (WSF) 2026 gathers momentum, one message is becoming increasingly clear: the future of food will be shaped not only in laboratories or boardrooms, but also in the fields, villages, and communities where people cultivate the land and protect local knowledge.
The Forum brings together thousands of activists, farmers, researchers, youth leaders, Indigenous communities, policymakers, and civil society organisations from more than 150 countries. Together, they are exploring practical solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges—from climate change and inequality to food insecurity and environmental degradation.
Why Food Matters
Food is more than nourishment. It is culture, identity, livelihoods, health, and resilience.
Across Africa and around the world, communities are facing growing pressures from climate change, land degradation, rising food prices, biodiversity loss, and unequal access to resources. Smallholder farmers, who produce much of the world's food, are often among those most affected.
The World Social Forum provides a platform to ask an essential question:
How can we build food systems that nourish both people and the planet?
Growing the Food Future
The answer emerging from Benin is rooted in food sovereignty—the idea that communities should have the right to define their own food systems, protect their seeds, and manage natural resources sustainably.
Throughout the Forum, participants are sharing experiences in:
- Agroecology and regenerative farming
- Indigenous and local seed preservation
- Climate-resilient agriculture
- Youth leadership in farming
- Women's empowerment in food production
- Community-led land and water management
- Local markets and fair food economies
GFAiR and CAFF at the Forum
GFAiR – The Global Forum on Agricultural Innovation and Research and The Food Bridge vzw are actively participating in the World Social Forum 2026.
The Collective Action on Forgotten Foods (CAFF) – a GFAiR programme coordinated by The Food Bridge vzw, funded by the European Commission, with technical support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) – is featured at an exhibition stand and a dedicated side event.
Participants are exploring practical pathways for empowering the next generation to conserve, add value to, commercialise, and promote Forgotten Foods—creating decent jobs, strengthening local economies, and advancing food sovereignty.
From Discussion to Action
The Forum's greatest strength is its ability to connect people across sectors and borders. Farmers exchange ideas with scientists. Young innovators meet experienced community leaders. Civil society organisations collaborate with policymakers. Together, they are creating partnerships that extend well beyond the Forum itself.