VIII Global Conference Family Farming: Sustainability of Our Planet
A high-level event to place family farming at the center of the global action.
September 19, 2023 – The world faces daunting challenges – from the climate crisis and the energy crisis to the urgent need to ensure the economic, social and environmental sustainability of our agrifood systems. Moreover, we are facing unprecedented hunger and poverty levels in the past 20 years. Faced with this complex reality, the World Rural Forum (WRF) is preparing to hold its VIII Global Conference entitled “Family Farming: Sustainability of Our Planet”.
Key dates: The event is scheduled for March 19-21, 2024 and will be held at the Europa Congress Palace, located in the historic city of Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the heart of the Basque Country, Spain.
A high-level Forum: The VIII Global Conference will be a high-level forum, endorsed by an Advisory Committee composed of diverse stakeholders, including representatives of family farmers from around the world, government agencies, international organizations and research centers. Its main objective is to stress the importance of family farming and consolidate its central role in building sustainable, resilient, inclusive and viable food systems which are critical for the future of the planet in a climate crisis context and for meeting the 2030 Agenda.
A legacy of success: The WRF has organized seven previous Global Conferences, all attended by renowned experts and highly qualified representatives of governments, international agencies, research centers, family farming organizations, cooperatives and development NGOs across five continents. Such meetings have been decisive in defining action priorities at the international level and have made a lasting impression.
25th Anniversary of the WRF: In 2024, on its 25th anniversary, the WRF aims to further elevate the status of family farming as the central actor towards achieving sustainable food systems and thriving rural livelihoods. The Conference seeks to inspire tangible commitments from all stakeholders to unlock the unique potential of the 2.5 billion people who depend on family farming around the world.
Scaling up the United Nations Decade for Family Farming: The VIII Global Conference will celebrate the midpoint of the implementation period of the United Nations Decade for Family Farming 2019-2028 (UNDFF). An unprecedented opportunity to assess the progress made since its launch and identify priority actions that will support achieving the objectives during the 2024-2028 period.
New and more ambitious alliances: La The Conference will gather more than 150 high-level representatives from various organizations, governments, research centers and other stakeholders from across five continents to promote a more central, strategic and integral role for family farming in the food systems of the future. Among other major challenges, it will also promote climate change adaptation strategies, environmental preservation and efforts for overcoming poverty and inequalities.
Women and youth leading the Conference: The VIII Global Conference will feature youth and women in family farming as key actors in ensuring a resilient and inclusive future for family farming.
This VIII Global Conference on Family Farming is expected to be a landmark to address critical issues for the future of our planet. A call to action, a platform for collaboration and an opportunity for the most representative people in the field of family farming from around the world to jointly tackle the most pressing challenges of our time.
