From October 21 to November 1, a delegation from the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) will participate in the 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP 16) in Calì, Colombia.
Led by Eloisa Frederking, 2nd Vice-President of Sociedad Rural Argentina and WFO Board Member for Latin America, the delegation includes Pierre Lampron, 2nd Vice-President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture; Maria Alkayed, Manager of Environmental Sustainability and Regulatory Affairs at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture; Karen Post Bache, Nature Policy Manager at the Danish Food and Agriculture Council; James Thiaine, Senior Policy Advisor at the Kenya National Farmers Federation; and Balbino Benitez, Vice President of Union Agricola Nacional.
WFO delegation, along with Ambra Raggi, WFO Member Engagement Manager, and Francesco Brusaporco, Officer in charge of biodiversity issues, will actively participate in negotiations, meetings, debates, and events.
CBD COP 16 will be the first Biodiversity COP since the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) at COP 15 in December 2022 in Montreal, Canada. At COP 16, governments will review the state of implementation of the GBF Framework, including alignment with National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and resource mobilization.
CBD COP 16 marks WFO’s first-ever participation in the CBD COP, a significant milestone that reaffirms the organisation’s unwavering commitment to elevating farmers’ voices in global biodiversity policy-making discussions that directly impact agriculture.
Building on WFO’s first-ever Policy for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity and Natural Resources, adopted by the WFO General Assembly last June, the WFO Working Group on Nature and Biodiversity has worked on an official statement for the WFO delegation’s advocacy at CBD COP 16. Key points include recognising the ecosystem services farmers provide through sustainable agriculture, engaging farmers as key partners in biodiversity conservation efforts, and supporting farmers in adopting sustainable, locally adapted agricultural practices. To learn more, read the official statement here.
WFO’s involvement throughout the UN Biodiversity Conference:
Friday, 25th October 2024
13:20-14:00 UTC-05 | Farallones – Youth Meeting Room, Plaza One (Blue Zone) | Cultivating Tomorrow: Embracing Innovation for a Sustainable, Biodiverse Future | Organisers: Agrobio Colombia; CropLife International; SAC | Speaker: James Thiaine, Senior Policy Advisor for Climate Action, Kenya National Farmers’ Federation (KENAFF)
Saturday, 26th October 2024
13:55 – 14:40 UTC-05 | MUSEO – Museo La Tertulia | World Biodiversity Summit – Feeding the Future: Harmonising Food Systems with the Natural World | Organiser: World Climate Foundation | Speaker: Eloisa Frederking, WFO Board Member
Sunday, 27th October 2024
09:00-10:00 UTC-05 | Nature Positive Pavilion, Big Room, Plaza 2 (Blue Zone) | Harnessing Nature-based Solutions through the Transition to Sustainable Farming | Organiser: World Climate Foundation | Speaker: James Thiaine, Senior Policy Advisor for Climate Action, Kenya National Farmers’ Federation (KENAFF)
Monday, 28th October 2024
10:00-11:30 UTC-05 | Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Pavilion (Blue Zone) | Empowering farmers and indigenous people as stewards of biodiversity for food and agriculture | Organisers: World Farmers Organisation (WFO); International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB); Université Laval | Speakers: Eloisa Frederking, WFO Board Member; Pierre Lampron, Vice-President, Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA); Karen Post Bache, Nature Policy Manager, Danish Agriculture and Food Council (DAFC); James Thiaine, Senior Policy Advisor for Climate Action, Kenya National Farmers’ Federation (KENAFF)
Tuesday, 29th October
17:45 – 19:15 UTC-05 | IUCN Pavilion (Blue Zone) | Common Ground on Regenerative Agriculture for a Sustainable Future: Screening & Farmers Dialogue | Organisers: World Conservation Congress (IUCN); UN Foundation; Regen10 | Speaker: Balbino Benitez, Vice President, Unión Agrícola Nacional of Paraguay (UAN) |
Wednesday, 30th October 2024
17.00-18.00 UTC-05 | Nature Positive Pavilion, Plaza 2 (Blue Zone) | Making Peace Between Food and Nature: High Level Country Dialogue on Incorporating Food Systems in NBSAPs | Organisers: Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU); World Wildlife Fund (WWF); Climate Focus; NDC Partnership; Global Alliance for the Future of Food | Speaker: James Thiaine, Senior Policy Advisor for Climate Action, Kenya National Farmers’ Federation (KENAFF)
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