In a bid to propel the role of communication for family farming into the spotlight, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is set to host the technical seminar Rural Communication Services (RCS) and Inclusive Innovation Approaches for Family Farming on 29 April 2024 at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy. This seminar comes as part of the ongoing implementation of the United Nations Decade of Family Farming 2019-28 (UNDFF), a global initiative aimed at unleashing the potential of family farmers to drive transformative change within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Central to the discussions will be the concept of Rural Communication Services (RCS), an integrated and participatory approach encompassing various communication processes, media applications and institutional arrangements tailored to meet the needs of family farmers. Over the past five years, efforts have been made to promote RCS in connection to family farming policies and programmes, spearheaded by FAO supported regional Communication for Development (ComDev) initiatives – ComDev Asia, YenKasa Africa and Onda Rural – jointly with the Collaborative Change Communication initiative (CCComDev) at the global level.

The technical seminar aims to share insights from these initiatives and explore innovative solutions to more inclusive and responsive communication and innovation services in rural areas. Sessions will delve into RCS trends, perspectives and inclusive innovation efforts, with the aim to foster knowledge-sharing and collaboration among initiatives committed to drive positive change in family farming.

As the UNDFF reaches its midway point, this seminar serves as a crucial juncture to take stock of progress, identify challenges, and chart a course for the future of RCS and other inclusive innovation for family farming. Family farming plays an indispensable role in achieving global food security and sustainable development, and initiatives such as this technical seminar are essential in empowering family farmers and advancing agrifood systems worldwide.

Register to attend the seminar here: https://fao.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJctcu2trD0oHdONFESW4iOxTGkVXRH-obP-.

Alternatively, you can watch the seminar webcast using the following links:

• Morning session on Rural Communication Services (RCS) (9am CEST) https://www.fao.org/webcast/home/en/item/6512/icode/
• Afternoon session on Inclusive Innovation Approaches for family farming (2pm CEST) http://www.fao.org/webcast/home/en/item/6513/icode/

For more details, please refer to the flyer here or contact comdev@fao.org.