WORLD FOOD FORUM 2024 Global Family Farming Forum: Halfway through the UN Decade of Family Farming 2019-2028 High-level Opening Ceremony Statement

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Colleagues, 

Welcome to the Global Family Farming meeting, hosted by the 2024 World Food Forum.

We celebrate this event at the mid-way point of the UN Decade of Family Farming 2019-28.  Happy rural women day!

Family farms are central to both rural development and to building efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems.

Family farmers play a pivotal role in ensuring global food security.

Farmers are the driving force for the transformation of agrifood systems, and FAO strives to strengthen their role.

Together with IFAD, through our work in this Decade, we are helping to drive discussions to develop new and improved public policies and investments supporting family farming.

Family farmers are agents of change, blending innovative practices with extensive traditional knowledge. 

Indeed, family farmers know very well how to address the theme of this year’s World Food Forum: ‘Good food for all, for today and tomorrow’.

They are the main contributors to the Right to Foods for a better life and a better future – which is the theme of this year’s World Food Day that we will be celebrating tomorrow to mark FAO’s 79th Birthday! .

Family farmers provide most of our food – which amounts to 70 to 80 percent globally, in value terms.

Their diverse agricultural practices preserve agro-biodiversity and ensure the production of food diversity.

It gives me great pleasure to see family farmers from all over the world gathered here today.

Family farmers are the people that know best the realities of working the land, handling animals, the ocean, lakes, rivers and the forests.

Their voices and perspectives are vital to our discussions during this week.

Together with the Global-Hub on Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems​, this Global Family Farming meeting is an important platform to further strengthen the inclusion, ensuring no one is left behind.

After the event, the farm will move to a new home and be part of an initiative, launched by the Holy See, where they are establishing a rural community dedicated to the values of solidarity and the sharing of knowledge, with a special focus on sustainable agriculture, biodiversity and education.

Dear Colleagues,

Since its launch in 2019, the Decade has achieved very positive results in terms of adopted policies, increased participation, and boosted the commitment of countries across different regions.

To date, 16 countries have approved national action plans for family farming, and three regional action plans have been developed.

In total, 46 countries now have a policy framework related to the UN Decade on Family Farming.

FAO has worked closely with governments, parliamentarians and family farmers to develop public policies and legislations that give better conditions to family farmers.

Our knowledge and technical platforms on family farming and rural communication services share a wealth of information.

FAO’s Farmer Field Schools and the Forest and Farm Facility directly support farmer organizations.

However, family farmers still have a lot of untapped potential.

With this Forum, we have the opportunity to leverage this potential going forward.

We must continue to combine our efforts to address the new challenges that are emerging globally.

We must listen and act on the solutions that will be presented by family farmers, rural women and youth.

They are a driving force towards sustainable agrifood systems and the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life - leave no one behind.

I wish you a fruitful discussion and look forward to tangible solutions  guide our work through the next half of the UN Decade on Family Farming.

Thank you.