Advocating for Farmers of All Sizes, All Regions, and All Sectors

Advocacy stands at the core of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) mandate. It is the very reason WFO exists and acts on the global stage. In a system where farmers are often misunderstood or misrepresented, WFO ensures that the true identity of farmers is recognised in all relevant international platforms.

Farmers are entrepreneurs, investing their own resources, assuming all the risks, and reinvesting in the sustainability of their farms, families, and communities. As such, they are economic actors in the food systems—yet distinct from large agribusinesses. Farmers also organise themselves into cooperatives and representative organisations, but unlike traditional civil society or NGOs, they speak for themselves and implement action directly on the ground. Their role is unique and cannot be replaced. For this reason, farmers must be guaranteed a seat at the decision-making table at all levels—local, national, regional, and global.

As a recognised actor in the international multilateral system, WFO participates in major global summits and processes, advocating for the interests of farmers in the most critical policy discussions.

WFO’s advocacy efforts focus on:

• Recognition of farmers as key actors in global sustainability efforts.
• Engagement of farmers in the development of policies and programmes that directly affect agriculture.
• Support to farmers through improved access to finance, innovation, and tailored capacity-building — empowering them to lead transformative solutions.