Future Policy Award
The Award
The new Future Policy Award celebrates policies that have proven to have a positive effect on the rights of future generations and that can be applied in other countries or regions around the world. The aim of the award is to raise global awareness for these exemplary policies and speed up policy action towards just, sustainable and peaceful societies. The Future Policy Award is the first award that celebrates policies rather than people on an international level. Each year the World Future Council chooses one topic on which policy progress is particularly urgent.
Topic 2009: Food Security
Currently one billion people are suffering from hunger around the world. This is why the Future Policy Award 2009 celebrates successful policies for Food Security and the Human Right to Food. Policies are nominated that create fair and sustainable food systems, working towards ensuring access to adequate food for all citizens.
The shortlisted policies
- Brazilian Minister Patrus Ananias visiting a market
The winner of the Future Policy Award 2009 is The Belo Horizonte Food Security Programme (Brazil). It is the world’s most comprehensive policy that tackles hunger immediately and secures a healthy and affordable food supply for all of Belo Horizonte’s citizens. The results of this policy are impressive: The child mortality rate in Belo Horizonte has decreased by 60% in the last decade since the policy was introduced in 1993, the number of children below the age of five hospitalised for malnutrition has sank by 75%. 40% of the population directly profits from this programme.
The Future Policy Award was handed over to Patrus Ananias, the Brazilian Minister for Social Development and the Fight against Hunger. Ananias administrated the programme for Food Security during his office as Mayor of the three million metropolis Belo Horizonte between 1993 and 1996. He now heads the national Brazilian Anti-Hunger Programme.
In joint second place the Cuban policy on Urban Agriculture and the Tuscan policy on the Protection and Promotion of the Heritage of Local Breeds and Plant Varieties are both highly commended.
