Sowers of Life and Resistance: Building collective feminist leadership for food sovereignty

The Sowers of Life and Resistance booklet is a profound testimony of women and young women from across the region who participated in the first edition of the Feminist School, organized by the Alliance for Food Sovereignty of the Peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean. This initiative provided a much-needed political and educational space to confront the intersecting challenges of patriarchy, racism, and neoliberalism.

The school, held virtually and in-person throughout 2023, was about more than training — it was a collective reimagining of food power relations within food systems. With sessions addressing agroecology, the linkage of the right to food and women’s rights, the impact of systemic gender violence, and the construction of intergenerational collective leadership, the participants shared experiences, knowledge, and tools to strengthen their communities and struggles.

"We are not just defending food sovereignty; we are transforming relationships with nature and within our communities,” shared one participant. “Through collective care and action, we amplify our voices and confront injustices that silence us.”

The booklet invites readers into this vibrant journey, offering reflections and methodologies that grassroots women leaders are using within their territories and organizations. Chapters cover themes such as feminist economy, political participation, and the fight against gender violence, emphasizing agroecology and collective care as vital practices for resistance against all forms of discrimination.

By weaving together diverse knowledge systems and the ancestral knowledge of Indigenous and Afro-descendant women, the school builds bridges across generations. Its methodologies, like the Agroecological Booklog, reveal the hidden contributions of women to local economies, highlighting their vital role in food production and care.

"Without feminism, there is no agroecology," states the booklet, which calls for a depatriarchalization of food systems and governance. This collective effort challenges the exploitation of women’s labor and the corporate control of resources, advocating instead for equitable policies rooted in solidarity and sustainability.

As a living document, the booklet aims to inspire action in communities worldwide, providing tools to replicate the school’s methodologies and continue the fight for a feminist and human rights-based transformation of corporate food systems and towards food sovereignty.

Download the booklet in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

For more information please contact Teresa Maisano: maisano@fian.org