June 2014: As part of the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and Food Tank are organizing an e-discussion, titled ‘The Future of Family Farming: Empowerment and Equal Rights for Women and Youth,’ which is open for participation from 9-30 June 2014. IYFF discussions and events throughout the Year aim to raise global attention on the role of family farming in eradicating poverty and hunger, providing food security and nutrition, improving livelihoods, protecting the environment, managing natural resources and achieving sustainable development.

The e-discussion focuses on three areas: challenges faced by women and youth in agriculture, including how to make rural areas more attractive to youth; identification of initiatives and programs that strengthen the role of women and youth in agriculture; and measures to ensure empowerment and equal rights of women and youth in agriculture, including actions by family farming organizations, development organizations, governments and the private sector. The online discussion is taking place on the Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition, ‘FSN Forum.’

Family farmers include smallholders and medium scale farmers as well as fisherfolk, pastoralists, indigenous peoples, traditional communities and peasants.

At the 33rd FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), in Santiago, Chile, in May 2014, participants recognized family farming as a “major ally” in the eradication of hunger and poverty. The conference showcased family farming initiatives, including: assisting family farmers in accessing markets in Barbados; adapting agricultural policies to family farmers’ needs in Brazil; and investing in programmes and services to protect family farming in Nicaragua, where 80% of producers are smallholders.

Upcoming IYFF events include: the Agrifuture Days 2014 conference, which will focus on the application and use of information and communications technology (ICT) in family farming; an International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) event on smallholders in Turkey; and the Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2). ‘Celebrating family farming’ events will offer attendees the opportunity to meet farmers and learn about and sample local food. [FAO Press Release on FSN Forum] [Concept Note] [FSN Forum] [IYFF Website] [FAO Press Release on FAO LAC Conference] [Food Tank Website] [IISD RS Story on IYFF Launch]