On July 31, in the recent virtual consultation on the second revision (REV2) of the Pact for the Future, the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO), represented by Ms Francesca Mancarella, Advocacy, Policy, and Partnerships Officer at the WFO International Secretariat, delivered a powerful statement on behalf of the Farmers’ Major Group. The Pact for the Future is the anticipated outcome document of the Summit of the Future, scheduled to take place in New York from September 22-23, 2024. The high-level event will bring together world leaders to forge a new international consensus to put the world on a better path by accelerating the implementation of the existing commitments and agreeing on solutions to new challenges.
The consultation, convened by the co-facilitators of the Summit, H.E. Ms. Antje Leendertse, Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany and H.E. Mr. Neville Melvin Gertze, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Namibia, aimed to provide an opportunity for all stakeholders to share their perspectives, contribute their inputs to enrich the Summit’s outcomes, and uphold a shared commitment to inclusivity and partnership, as Member States work together towards adopting an ambitious and action-oriented Pact by consensus.
Speaking to an assembly of international officials, the WFO representative emphasised the critical need to prioritise hunger in the international community agenda, a focus absent from the latest draft of the Pact. She also highlighted the importance of including farmers in the discussions on food security and climate justice at the Summit of the Future, calling it a pre-condition for effectively tackling global food insecurity.
“The Pact for the Future must explicitly acknowledge and emphasise the essential role of farmers in ensuring global food security“, stated the WFO.
The WFO also raised a crucial question about the direction of agricultural innovation, advocating for a farmer-driven and network-based approach that respects local knowledge and farmers’ needs. They argued that financial support for agricultural innovation must be co-designed with farmers to enable them to address the sector’s specific challenges.
In closing their speech, the WFO stressed that farming communities can only fully contribute to the progress of the 2030 Agenda if public institutions and policymakers adequately support them.