In collaboration with the World Rural Forum, the International Cooperative Alliance and the World Farmers Organization, FAO plans to hold a series of regional dialogues to enhance local, regional and global discussions on family farming, including small-scale farming. The outcomes of these regional dialogues will set the ground to provide a regional overview of family farming issues that will be addressed in the IYFF Global Dialogue to be held in Rome in 2014. This background paper aims at facilitating the Regional Dialogue for Europe and Central Asia, and the preparation of the outcome document. It is based on literature review and statistical research, and focuses on three key aspects of family farming and the policy environment in which it operates:

• Its importance and role in the ECA Region, and its contribution to food security and sustainable agricultural development.

• The policy environment in which family farming operates, and existing programs and strategies in support of or biased against family farms.

• The role of producer organizations and cooperatives in ensuring sustainable and efficient family farming.