The theme of the 2014 poster contest is

Family Farming: “Feeding the world, caring for the earth”

Family Farming: “Feeding the world, caring for the earth” is the formal wording of the 2014 theme. It has been chosen to raise the profile of family farming and smallholder farming by focusing world attention on its significant role in eradicating hunger and poverty, providing food security and nutrition, improving livelihoods, managing natural resources, protecting the environment, and achieving sustainable development, in particular in rural areas.

Interest in family farming is also reflected in the decision of the UN General Assembly to designate 2014 “International Year of Family Farming.”

About the contest:

• The poster contest is co-organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Women’s Guild in Rome, Italy. 
• Entries are accepted until 30 September 2014.

Eligibility:

• The contest is open to children and youth between the ages of 5 and 17, living in any country of the world.
• Winners will be selected in three categories: ages 5 to 8, ages 9 to 12 and ages 13 to 17. 
• Only one entry per person. Submitting multiple entries under the same artist’s name will result in disqualification. 
• Multiple designs may be submitted using the same contact email address, but the artist’s name should not be duplicated. This means that teachers or parents can upload multiple files using the same email, but only one file per child is allowed.
• Poster entries may be drawn, painted or sketched using pens, pencils, crayons or charcoal, or using oil, acrylic or watercolor paint, as well as mixed media. Digitally created artwork is also permitted. No photographs are allowed.
• Poster entries may or may not include text. If text is used, any language is permitted.
• All artworks must be original and should not include photographic images of the contestant or other personal information. 

Entering the contest:

• All participants are encouraged to watch the short contest video, and read about the World Food Day theme. Younger children may want to learn together with a parent or teacher. 
• Complete all fields in the contest entry form, upload your poster design, and click SUBMIT. Younger children may need help from an adult in making their online submission. 
• Working on an A4 sheet or an 8 ½ inches by 11 inches sheet is recommended, to make it easier for you to scan and upload your poster design. If your poster is larger, you may have to take a digital photo of the work and upload the photo file. 
• Only digital files in JPG can be accepted and submissions must be made online – please do not send in physical posters. 

Contest prizes:

• Three winning poster designs will be selected in each category.
• The winners will be announced on 16 October 2014 – World Food Day.
• The top three poster designs in all three categories will be published on World Food Day website.  
• Certificates of Recognition, signed by a United Nations official, will be sent to all the winners. First-place winners in each category will receive a surprise gift!

Copyright, privacy and other conditions:

• FAO retains the copyright on all artwork submitted. 
• When winning posters are published, only the first initial, full family name and country of origin will be published. No other personal information about the contestants will be published or shared.

Family Farming: “Feeding the world, caring for the earth”

Here are some frequently asked questions about this year’s World Food Day poster design contest. (TIP for teachers:  very useful for classroom discussion.)

(NOTE:  younger readers may need help from parents or teachers.)

Q. What is family farming?

Family farming includes all family-based agricultural activities, and it is linked to several areas of rural development. Family Farming is a mean of organizing agricultural forestry, fisheries, pastoral and aquaculture production which is managed and operated by a family and predominantly reliant on family labour, including both women’s and men’s.

Both in developing and developed countries, family farming is the predominant form of agriculture in the food production sector.

At national level, there are a number of factors that are key for a successful development of family farming, such as: agro-ecological conditions and territorial characteristics; policy environment; access to the markets; access to land and natural resources; access to technology and extension services; access to finance; demographic, economic and socio-cultural conditions; availability of specialized education among others.

Q. Why is Family Farming important?

• Family and small-scale farming are inextricably linked to world food security.
• Family farming preserves traditional food products, while contributing to a balanced diet and safeguarding the world’s agro-biodiversity and the sustainable use of natural resources.
• Family farming represents an opportunity to boost local economies, especially when combined with specific policies aimed at social protection and well-being of communities.

Q. How many people are going hungry?

Latest FAO estimates show that about 842 million people worldwide live in a state of daily hunger. The good news is that many people and organizations and governments are now energized by the goal of ending hunger in our lifetime.

Now that you’ve read the rules, watched the video and learned about cooperatives, it’s time to work on your poster.

• Think about how to illustrate the theme, Family Farming: “Feeding the world, caring for the earth”.
• Design, draw or paint your poster.
• Use a photocopier to scan your finished poster, or take a digital photo of the poster. Ask an adult for help if you need to. NOTE: if you submit a digital photo, make sure it is in JPG format. Maximum allowable file size is 1.5 MB.
• Please do NOT send your poster as an email attachment.
  
• Enter your details in the fields provided. (For children below 12 this field needs to be filled in by an adult and the disclaimer box needs to be ticked on the child’s behalf).