Geneva. The Food and Agriculture Organization Liaison Office in Geneva (FAO Geneva) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), co-organized the Geneva launch of the UN Decade of Family Farming 2019-2028 (UNDFF), in partnership with the permanent representations of Benin, Costa Rica and Switzerland to the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), the Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG), La Via Campesina, and the Swiss Farmers’ Union. The opening of a photographic exhibition in partnership with UNOG also formed part of the event.

The Geneva event followed the Global Launch in Rome in May 2019 and the New York event in July 2019, and saw opening remarks from Ms Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett, Director of FAO Geneva, H. E. Ms Elayne Whyte Gómez, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to UNOG Mr François Pythoud, Special Envoy for International Sustainable Agriculture of the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) of Switzerland. The panel session benefitted from presentations by Mr Fritz Glauser, an organic dairy and cereals farmer and Vice-President, Swiss Farmers’ Union; Mr Simon-Pierre Fandy, Counsellor, Permanent Representation of Benin to UNOG; Ms Paula Gioia, a farmer and beekeeper and member of La Via Campesina and Mr Torben Nilsson, Senior Global Engagement Specialist, IFAD.

In opening the event, Ms Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett highlighted the paradox where family farmers produce on average 80% of the world’s food and at the same time face high levels of poverty, especially in developing countries. The Decade, she said, address the challenges they face, through developing appropriate public policies. This was also emphasized by Ms Gioia of La Via Campesina who played a leading role in advocating for the UNDFF and is now part of the Steering Committee. “Small holders family farms, fisher communities, pastoralists and indigenous people are among the most vulnerable groups to suffer from malnourishment, poverty and marginalization. At the same time, we have been and continue to be the ones feeding the world, yet we do not receive the necessary support to have a life in dignity”, she said.

Ambassador Whyte Gómez of Costa Rica, whose country led the presentation of the General Assembly resolution which declared UN Decade of Family Farming, spoke of the interlinkages of the UNDFF with the areas of work done in the Geneva environment, such as human rights of rural populations, the right to food, the rights of indigenous and Afro-descendant people, while Mr Pythoud of OFAG submitted that youth, gender equality and innovation are three key issues for the UNDFF. He reminded that the average farming age is between 50-60 years old, the sector is still male dominated and requires innovation, including new technologies.

Mr Glauser, a farmer, underscored that the sector plays an important role in promoting sustainable food security and the preservation and promotion of sustainable management of the environment, including the Swiss countryside. Family farming in Switzerland, he said, is a model of enterprise transmitted from generations and represents the synonymy of multifunctionality and diversity. This was echoed by Mr Fandy of Benin, the chair of the Cotton 4 countries who also highlighted that cotton contributes between 8 to 12% of the GDP, 40% of total exports revenues and 70% of total agricultural exports revenue of the C-4 countries.

The event concluded with Mr Nilson of IFAD providing a very comprehensive presentation on the DFF Global Action Plan, a road map to promote the development of policies, programs and regulations to support family farmers for the next decade. The plan has seven key pillars and specific actions including on supporting rural development, education, gender, improving livelihoods, climate-resilient food system, Improve synergies between production systems, markets, training among others. FAO and IFAD are responsible for guiding the UNDFF implementation.

Please, visit the FAO dedicated website on the UN Decade of Family Farming.