From June 17 to 21, 2024, the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) hosted its Annual Meeting. This year, the event was held at the FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy, and was simultaneously livestreamed on the WFO YouTube account. The meeting annually gathers hundreds of family farmers, young and women farmer leaders, farmers’ organizations, and agricultural cooperatives from across the globe, as well as other relevant stakeholders such as government representatives, multilateral institutions, academia, scientists, private sectors, civil society groups, and financial institutions. The WFO Annual Meeting is a vibrant and inclusive platform for forward-looking dialogues, knowledge exchange, and multi-stakeholder collaboration to advance global agri-food systems’ sustainability.

A PLATFORM FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRI-FOOD SYSTEMS

Under the theme “Harvesting Tomorrow: Farmers Shaping the Future of Agriculture and Food Production,” #WFO2024 aimed to provide an inclusive platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and multi-stakeholder collaboration to advance the sustainability of global agri-food systems. This meeting was a must-attend event for anyone passionate about sustainable agriculture, whether they were farmers, researchers, policymakers, or advocates.

UNITED NATIONS DECADE OF FAMILY FARMING SESSION

One of the highlights of the event was the United Nations Decade of Family Farming (UNDFF) stocktaking session, co-organised by the WFO, La Via Campesina (LVC), and the World Rural Forum (WRF). This session, held on June 18 from 9:30 to 11:00 AM CEST, reflected on the progress made since the UNDFF was declared in 2019. The collaboration between WFO, LVC, and WRF was crucial in ensuring a rich exchange of ideas and strategies. With contributions from FAO and IFAD representatives, as well as government delegates, it culminated in a comprehensive summary that will inform discussions at the mid-term forum of the UNDFF next October.

FARMERS SHAPING THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PRODUCTION

In addition to the UNDFF session, the WFO2024 Annual Meeting featured numerous other sessions focused on Innovation and Digitalisation in Agriculture, Regenerative Agriculture, Agro-Innovation, Finance, Trade Regulations, Global Food Security, and the role of young farmers in Climate-Smart Agriculture. Whether attending in person or participating virtually, the WFO2024 Annual Meeting was an engaging and insightful event.

LET’S HEAR FROM OUR YOUNG FARMER-LEADERS

Young farmers are crucial to the sustainability of family farming, bringing fresh perspectives and innovative approaches that drive the adoption of new technologies and resilient farming methods. In this segment, we will hear from young farmer leaders worldwide as they share their knowledge and experiences on a broad spectrum of agricultural topics.