From 11 to 22 November, a World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) delegation actively participated in the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. They urged world leaders and policymakers to fully recognise farmers’ role and engagement in climate efforts and integrate their knowledge and priorities in all decisions impacting agriculture.
Led by Board Members Keith Currie, Kati Partanen, and Gunsham Seeborun, along with WFO Secretary General Andrea Porro, the delegation included representatives from prominent WFO member organisations such as the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA), Confederazione Italiana Agricoltori (CIA), Danish Agriculture and Food Council (DAFC), F.A.L.C.O.N. Association, Federation of Swedish Farmers (LRF), Georgian Farmers Association (GFA), Kenya National Farmers’ Federation (KENAFF), Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK – Finland), National Smallholder Farmers’ Association of Malawi (NASFAM), National Farmers’ Federation (NFF – Australia), National Farmers’ Union of England and Wales (NFU UK), and the Young Farmers’ Federation of Uganda (UNYFA).
Members of the WFO’s International Secretariat, including Luisa Volpe, Valeria Di Marzo, Ambra Raggi, Francesco Brusaporco, Lorenzo Marelli, and Macaulay Jones also joined to support the delegation.
Driving Dialogue Through Key Events Led by WFO
WFO took a proactive role in leading and organising several key events at COP29 to bring farmers’ perspectives to the forefront of climate debate:
Empowering Farmers: Access to Finance and Innovation for Climate Adaptation and Resilience
Organised in collaboration with the US Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and Rainforest Alliance (RA), this official UNFCCC side event brought together farmer leaders from Botswana, Finland, Mauritius and the US, alongside key stakeholders, including policymakers from Sierra Leone and the US. Discussions centered on opportunities and challenges of investing in agriculture to enhance climate adaptation and resilience. WFO Board Members Kati Partanen and Gunsham Seeborun, and WFO Secretary General Andrea Porro shared their insights, with Ceris Jones (NFU UK) moderating. READ MORE HERE
Photo credit: ©WFO
Making Climate Finance Work for Farmers: On-farm Experiences and Concrete Solutions
Co-hosted with the World Rural Forum (WRF), Asian Farmers Association (AFA), and Pan-African Farmers’ Organisation (PAFO), as part of the COP29 Presidency’s official “Food, Agriculture and Water Day” programme, this farmer-led session explored farmers’ disproportionate exposure to climate risks, and the pressing need to accessible climate financing.
WFO representatives—Board Member Kati Partanen, WFO Gymnasium alumnus Maweji Herbert, and Secretary General Andrea Porro—contributed to the discussions alongside other farmer leaders, governments, international organisations, and financial sector stakeholders. Ceris Jones (NFU UK), facilitator of the WFO Working Group on Climate Change and co-focal point of the UNFCCC Farmers’ Constituency, moderated the first half of the event. READ MORE HERE
Photo credit: ©WFO
Leveraging Science to Finance Solutions for Sustainable Food Systems
Co-organised in partnership with CGIAR Hub for Sustainable Finance (ImpactSF), the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), and the World Rural Forum (WRF), this session focused on bridging the financial gap for farmers and build climate-resilient food systems. Sharon Cherono (KENAFF) contributed valuable insights, highlighting initiatives tailored to empower women and youth in agriculture. WATCH THE EVENT RECORDING HERE
Photo credit: ©WFO
WFO Delegation’s Influence and Contributions
Beyond hosting events, WFO delegation contributed to the debate with farmer-driven insights across various critical sessions and events. Below are just a few highlights of WFO delegates impactful participation:
Board Member Keith Currie stressed the need for all stakeholders to come together, understanding that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, during the event “Enhancing Soil Health for Climate Action, Biodiversity Conservation, and Food and Nutrition Security: A Cross-Sectoral Approach” hosted by Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health (CA4SH) and CIFOR-ICRAF. He called for policymakers to create an enabling environment for farmers to invest in data-driven innovation. WATCH THE EVENT RECORDING HERE
Photo credit: ©CGIAR
Board Member Gunsham Seeborun, speaking at the event “Accelerating Climate Action and Finance to Frontline Communities Affected by Fragility or Conflict”, hosted by WFP, UNDRR, OCHA, FAO, and UNICEF, emphasised the importance of local knowledge and low-technology farming solutions that are adaptable, empowering, and sustainable. He highlighted microfinancing as a critical tool to build safety nets for vulnerable communities. READ MORE HERE
Photo credit: ©IISD/ENB
Secretary General Andrea Porro spoke on behalf of world farmers during the official opening of COP29’s “Food, Agriculture and Water Day”, which featured the launch of the Baku Harmoniya Climate Initiative for Farmers, a collaboration between FAO and the COP29 Presidency. He called for the adoption of approaches that recognise the plurality of systems within agrifood. He warned against missing opportunities to unite around farmer-driven solutions. READ MORE HERE
Photo credit: ©IISD/ENB | Matthew TenBruggencate
Betty Chinyamunyamu (NASFAM) stressed the importance of early farmers engagement in climate technology development and implementation at the High-Level Dialogue “Moving Forward with NDC Acceleration in Agrifood Systems: Climate Technology Uptake”, hosted by UNFCCC. READ MORE HERE
Photo credit: ©IISD/ENB | Anastasia Rodopoulou
In addition, WFO actively participated in two high-profile events organised on the sidelines of COP29:
“Agri-Food Systems Summit,” hosted by Climate Action: WFO Secretary General Andrea Porro underscored farmers’ willingness, expertise, and resilience to lead the transition for food systems to adapt to and mitigate climate change. He called for governments, financial institutions and businesses to support farmers’ efforts. WATCH THE EVENT RECORDING HERE
Photo credit: ©Climate Action
“World Climate Summit,” organised by the World Climate Foundation: Betty Chinyamunyamu (NASFAM) highlighted farmers as key players of food systems. She advocated for the crucial role of farmers’ organisations in empowering farmers through capacity building, training, knowledge sharing, and inclusion in research. WATCH THE EVENT RECORDING HERE
Photo credit: ©WFO
Finally, WFO strengthened its engagement in the UNFCCC negotiations, championing the priority areas outlined in the official UNFCCC Farmers’ Constituency Joint Statement for COP 29:
- Ensuring agriculture negotiations address practical farm issues.
- Engaging farmers at all levels in designing and implementing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).
- Breaking down barriers between farmers and finance and making the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) relevant for farmers.
- Involving farmers in Loss and Damage (L&D) discussions and ensuring their participation in the L&D Fund’s governance.
- Developing global carbon markets that prioritise farmers’ rights and food production, while accommodating the diversity of farm systems.
- Enhancing transparency of agricultural emissions and accounting for mitigation progress made by farmers.
Among the most notable contributions:
- Sharon Cherono (KENAFF) addressed the SB61 Closing Plenary, emphasising the need to shift focus to means of implementation, as these are more relevant to action on the ground. READ THE FULL STATEMENT HERE
- Betty Chinyamunyamu (NASFAM) delivered an impactful intervention during the Resumed High-Level Segment (HLS), calling for climate action that prioritises farmers’ needs and solutions. She highlighted the necessity of access to land, water, knowledge, information, and locally appropriate technologies, advocated for farmers’ inclusion in Loss and Damage Fund governance, and stressed the importance of keeping food security central to climate policies. READ THE FULL STATEMENT HERE
Looking Ahead
Photo credit: ©WFO
As we look ahead to the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP30), scheduled from 10 to 21 November 2025 in Belém, Brazil, on the edge of the Amazon rainforest, where agriculture is set to take centre stage as a key solution to climate change, WFO will continue to champion a farmer-driven climate agenda that positions farmers as key players in climate action.
Read WFO reflections on COP29 outcomes and their implications for farmers HERE.