Two traditional Sámi tents at FAO headquarters in Rome provided an unusual setting for discussions about the future of food. In October, Indigenous representatives and researchers gathered for the fourth annual meeting of a global knowledge hub. Participants came from all seven sociocultural regions represented in its work. The gathering brought knowledge holders together with scientists to exchange experience and develop ideas jointly. Its purpose was not merely to preserve traditions, but to strengthen Indigenous participation in decisions affecting food systems and rural life.
Established in 2018, the hub now brings together forty organizations and institutions, five research networks and more than 250 experts. This structure supports evidence-informed policy while recognizing different ways of understanding land, nutrition and community well-being. The meeting's programme included restoration, conservation, mobility and nutrition, alongside cultural activities and exchanges between generations. Treating Indigenous people as partners changes who helps define a problem and its possible solutions. The emphasis is on creating knowledge together, rather than collecting local experiences without sharing influence over future policies.