On November 8, Esperance Nzuzi, President of the National Confederation of Agricultural Producers of Congo (CONAPAC), represented the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) at the launch of FAO’s 2024 State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) report. This year’s report focuses on the “Value-Driven Transformation of Agrifood Systems,” with an emphasis on refining estimates on the hidden health costs of agrifood systems across 156 countries. Through new True Cost Accounting (TCA) assessments, the report identifies policy pathways and stakeholder collaborations essential to reducing these hidden costs.
In her speech, the WFO representative highlighted the central role of farmers in achieving sustainable food systems. As the core of the agrifood system, farmers are key to shaping sustainable food systems. They produce healthy food and foster community well-being, but for truly sustainable global food systems to take root, farmers must receive fair economic returns. This enables them to continue living by and benefiting from their labour and values, ensuring that sustainability and profitability go hand-in-hand.
The CONAPAC President underscored that family farmers have emerged as crucial contributors to sustainable and resilient food systems. Their role is essential: they provide the world with nutritious food while delivering economic, social, and environmental benefits that extend beyond the farm.
The WFO representative called for agricultural policies that are both consistent and adapted to the specific context of each country, recognising the broader benefits of sustainable farming. Beyond policy, she stressed the need for exchanging experiences and prioritising training, which she described as one of the most effective ways to successfully implement policies and practical actions. When farmers are well-trained, they are better able to apply solutions. Other key issues include trade and land tenure, which require policies that respect each country’s unique needs.
The CONAPAC President added that sustainable farming practices have been part of traditional farming methods for generations. Moving forward requires identifying this knowledge, valuing its contributions to health, environment, and food quality, and adapting it to today’s context.
The WFO representative encouraged looking across countries to learn from various approaches to addressing disparities. In a globalised world, progress is uneven; it is essential to assess current positions and ensure policies are adapted to each unique landscape, allowing everyone to move forward together.
In her final remarks, Esperance Nzuzi highlighted the urgent need for harmonised, inclusive policies that support all farmers, from small to large scale.
The launch of the 2024 SOFA report marks a critical step in recognising and addressing the full impacts of agrifood systems on society. With farmers’ insights and experiences informing these data-driven approaches, the global agrifood sector can progress towards more resilient, sustainable systems.
Catch the full webcast and explore further insights from the discussion HERE.