World Food Producers bring their strong united voice in the UN 2021 Food Systems Summit

Food Producers’ Organisations across the globe sign a joint declaration to promote more sustainable food systems

Rome, Italy, September 22, 2021- Ahead of the United Nations 2021 Food Systems Summit (UNFSS), taking place on September 23, the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) and other fellow food producers’ organisations from different corners of the globe came together as one and independent voice and signed a joint declaration to reiterate that farmers are the solution to the achievement of sustainable food systems. They call for urgent and concrete actions to drive systemic change that put farmers at the centre as people and economic actors, to rebalance power in the value chain, recognising a fair share of value to the producers, to enhance their resilience and promote innovation.

Over the last 18 months, WFO played an integral part in the design, preparation, and implementation of the process to make sure that those who produce food were not left behind in the Summit and its implementation in the run-up to 2030.

In particular, WFO has been advocating for an independent voice for the farmers, fishers and all food producers, which led to the establishment of a specific mechanism for producers’ representation at the UN Food Systems Summit.

Food Producers’ Declaration for the UN Food Systems Summit

The declaration results from the series of independent dialogues convened by WFO, and the other regional farmers’ organisations across the globe, with the support of IFAD, to bring to the Summit table farmer-driven solutions to the pressing challenges that are affecting food systems: from food security to biodiversity, from climate change to nutrition.

The declaration reiterates the need for strong, empowered farmers’ organisations at the local, national, regional, and global levels to make sure to have a solid independent farmers’ voice. Furthermore, it points out the need for an international primary producers’ platform to enable their agency and steer UN policy and program on food systems.

Farmers anchor the food systems, but they are not alone in this game. That is why the signatories call all other food systems actors to work together with farmers to go in the same direction, recognising each other as partners and collaborating as equal actors in the system.

The declaration, initially supported by WFO with the Asian Farmers’ Association (AFA), the Pan-African Farmers’ Organization (PAFO), European Carbon Farmers, Bharat Krishak Samaj (Farmers’ Forum, India), International Pole and Line Foundation (IPNLF), Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU), Jamaica Network of Rural Women Producers (JNRWP), Intercontinental Network of Organic Farmers Organisations (INOFO), Copa and Cogeca, European Young Farmers’ Organisation (CEJA), Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), Environment and Development Association JASIL, Mongolia, is online by today for a broader public endorsement.