The VIII Global Conference on Family Farming Approaches

The Conference, which takes place halfway through the implementation period of the United Nations Decade of Family Farming (UNDFF 2019-2028), will convene nearly 200 distinguished participants from over 55 countries to discuss the varied, complex, and interconnected challenges faced by family farming worldwide, coupled with proposals to ensure the sustainability —economic, social, and environmental— of the planet.

March 14, 2024 – With less than a week before the opening, the World Rural Forum is finalizing the ins and outs of its VIII Global Conference on Family Farming: Sustainability of Our Planet, which will be held on March 19-21 at the Europa Congress Palace in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque Country (Spain).

The VIII Global Conference occurs precisely at a time where family farming across the planet is confronted with all series of severe interconnected challenges, including the climate crisis, high production costs, lack of social recognition, and much more.

To this end, the Conference will examine commitments, alliances, strategies, and most effective measures for strengthening family farming, while making a decisive contribution to overcoming global challenges.

The Conference will convene nearly 200 high-level representatives representing family farming organisations, governments, international organisations, research centres, foundations, consumers’ organisations, and young and women farmers’ organisations from all five continents. The aim is to raise awareness of the central, strategic and global role of family farming in the transformation of future food systems, but also in rural development, climate change adaptation strategies, nature conservation and tackling inequalities, among other major challenges.

After the institutional inauguration, the first day will feature contributions as relevant as those of Mr. Álvaro Lario, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD); Ms. Marcela Villarreal, Director of Partnerships and Collaborations Division with the United Nations of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); Mr. Mario Arvelo, President of the International Steering Committee of the United Nations Decade of Family Farming (UNDFF),and Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the UN in Rome; as well as Mr. Alberto Broch, President of COPROFAM and Vice President of the WRF, and will serve to highlight progress and challenges to meet the objectives set in the United Nations Decade of  Family Farming.

Find further information by checking the complete agenda of the Conference here.