The upcoming 2023 WFO General Assembly is just a few weeks away and it is time to delve further into the program of this unique event.

The WFO 2023 Annual Meeting will take place at the Sun City Convention Center in Rustenburg, South Africa. The event is organised in collaboration with the WFO Members Southern African Agri Initiative (SAAI) and African Farmers Association of South Africa (AFASA) with the Wildlife Ranching South Africa (WRSA).

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE WFO GA 2023?

This year’s theme is: “INVESTING IN FARMERS’ SOLUTIONS FOR RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEMS WITH A POSITIVE IMPACT ON NATURE”.

It will focus on the nexus between agriculture and nature, highlighting the critical role farmers and their local solutions on the ground can play to address the global challenges of transitioning to resilient Food Systems generating a tremendous and positive impact on the nature around us.

The 2023 WFO General Assembly will bring farmers from all over the world on the stage together with high-level representatives of governments, private sector entities, research centres and academia, international organisations, and financial institutions to look for synergic responses leveraging farmers’ solutions.

It will last four days, from May 21 to 24, and is organised around 5 crucial moments:

  • Farmers Consultations,
  • Opening Ceremony,
  • Internal Affair Session,
  • High-Level Session,
  • Farm Visits.

A DEEP DIVE INTO THE WFO GA 2023 PROGRAM

Sunday 21, the first day of this year’s WFO Annual Meeting, opens with two big Global Farmers’ Consultations.

The day will begin with a focus on Farmer-centric Principles for Regenerative Food Systems. Organized within the framework of the REGEN10 initiative, the morning consultation will allow farmers to share their experiences on how their practical solutions on the ground are generating a positive impact on nature.

Later in the day, the attention will shift to Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA). Organized within the AgMission initiative, of which WFO is a founding partner, the consultative meeting will focus on farmers’ experiences with CSA, including the barriers to adoption they meet and the solutions they have found.

The focus of day two will be on the Internal Affairs Session.
This session will provide an opportunity for WFO Members to discuss and deliberate on internal organizational matters, such as elections, membership, and other administrative issues. It is an important day for the organization as decisions made during this session will shape the direction of the WFO for the coming year.

On the last day of the General Assembly, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a High-level Session featuring four panels of discussions with international experts on Agriculture and Food Systems. Mr Dimitri Houtart, BBC Rural Affairs Champion, will moderate the panels.

The General Assembly will culminate on May 24 with two farm visits around the Sun City countryside. All participants will have the chance to discover more about Beestekraal Farm and Magalies Citrus Farm.

Beestekraal Farm in Madibeng produces various crops, including maize, wheat, and soybeans. Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the farm and witness demonstrations showcasing how farmers implement sustainable farming practices by utilizing modern tillage equipment, self-propelled sprayers, and technologically advanced tractors.

A comprehensive orchard tour awaits WFO GA participants at the Magalies Citrus Farm in Brits. The focus will be on sustainable citrus production and effective crop protection methods, showcasing cutting-edge products and technology in use. Furthermore, visitors will also get a firsthand look at the packhouse facility, with a step-by-step overview of sorting, washing, quality control, logistics, and export packaging.

MAKE ROOM FOR THE YOUTH!

An exhibition area will be set up for participants who want to learn more about the projects and initiatives led by WFO or in which WFO is involved as a core partner.
One of the booths will be specifically dedicated to WFO YOUNG, the new WFO initiative that aims to create the first-ever global platform for young farmers’ organizations worldwide.

Silvia Caprara from Giovani di Confagricoltura – ANGA and Marlize Grobbelaar from Suider-Afrika Agri Inisiatief (Saai), two young farmers attending the third edition of the WFO Gymnasium Capacity Building Program, will be at the WFO YOUNG booth to welcome all the attendees and tell them more about all the initiatives led by WFO to empower the next generations of farmers leaders.

Silvia Caprara is the winner of the first edition of the GYMx, an initiative by the WFO Gymnasium, as part of the program’s module on public speaking, and was awarded a fully funded participation at the GA. She will have the chance to experience first-hand how a General Assembly is and to participate in all the sessions and panels.

Furthermore, at the exhibition area, there will be representatives from The Climakers, AgMission, REGEN10, Demeter, TRUSTyFOOD and DIVINE projects.

You can find the GA updated program at the following link: https://bit.ly/WFOGA23_Program