Food Sovereignty Tours 
offer you a way to explore the realities of today’s global food system and to connect with the global movement for food sovereignty. This travel program is a project of Food First/Institute for Food & Development Policy in partnership with Global Exchange’s Reality Tours. The combined expertise of these two organizations will get you to the front lines of the world’s food sovereignty frontiers, to meet local farmers, activists, policymakers, and local consumers. We are here to share with you our 35 years of knowledge and contacts, to facilitate powerful cultural exchange and learning, and to connect the global food movement.
First defined by Vía Campesina in 1996, Food Sovereignty is “People’s right to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems.”
Get a taste of Food Sovereignty.…Travel with Food First to:
What Food Sovereignty Tours participants say about their experience:
“I have to say that this is definitely the most interesting and exciting thing that I have done in my life. My food interests, my agricultural interests, my history interests, politics, culture, travel, it’s like everything I love was in this trip. I loved it even more than I thought I would.” – Linda Slezak, Cuba
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“Coming to meet these groups under the umbrella of Food First has opened doors and allowed us a window into an understanding of Basque culture as well as inspired us by modeling a more food sovereign future.” – Martha Rosemeyer, Basque Country
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“Two weeks before the Fall 2011 semester started, I had the honor of being part of a Food First delegation in Bolivia with the amazing new project Food Sovereignty Tours. It is hard to summarize all the new information that was presented to me by Bolivian locals and from the wonderful professionals–-now friends—that I met on the trip. I went in with just an interest in food, and left a food activist.” – Daniel Heron, Bolivia
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“All the organizing and all the planning and all the work that goes on behind the scenes has really been flawless. I am really amazed by all your hard work. I am definitely learning more than I expected. I’m especially grateful to everyone in this group, everyone has been really generous in spirit and I’ve learned a lot from all of you.” – Lydia Nobello, Cuba
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“Marvelously done. Understanding the Oaxaca foodshed sheds light on all foodsheds, including ours in the Bay Area. Moreover, Oaxaca is a particularly special place that I hope to continue to be in contact with. And if I can help them defend their local foods, especially corn, against industrial imports, GMOs and unfair trade, I will be happy to do so. Thanks for another great trip. I don’t want to become a groupie, but I do imagine that I’ll be back for more.” – Peter Ruddock, Oaxaca
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“Thanks for an incredible experience in Basque Country. I will be keeping the trip alive in my kitchen and garden. The dried Basque peppers made it through customs and I plan to get the seeds planted in my garden soon. The Basque experience continues!” – Cynthia Newcomb, Basque Country
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“Words can’t even describe what an amazing country it is. I was also incredibly impressed with the Food First tour leader and her amazing knowledge of Bolivia’s history, politics, culture and agriculture. Not that I’d expect anything less from Food First.” – Jill Richardson, Bolivia
