Advancing Farmers’ Role in Global Biodiversity and Environmental Agendas

Protecting and managing biodiversity is essential to the resilience of agro-ecosystems and the future of farming. In June 2022, the WFO General Assembly gave a clear mandate to strengthen the Organisation’s role in global biodiversity discussions, recognising biodiversity as “central to the reputation, legacy, and sustainability” of agriculture.

The adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) later that year confirmed the critical link between agriculture and biodiversity, with two-thirds of its targets directly connected to food systems. Yet, the limited involvement of farmers in the negotiations raised concerns about its viability and implementation.

In response, WFO created a Working Group on Biodiversity and Natural Resources. Following broad consultations across its membership, WFO adopted in 2024 its first-ever Policy on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity and Natural Resources, providing farmer-driven policy recommendations for global biodiversity governance.

In October 2024, WFO participated for the first time as an accredited organisation at the the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16) in Cali, Colombia. In February 2025, during the COP16 Resumed Sessions in Rome, WFO reinforced its advocacy by meeting with the CBD Executive Secretary to highlight the critical role of farmers in biodiversity policymaking.

Beyond the CBD, WFO actively advances farmers’ engagement across the global environmental agenda, contributing to the Farmers’ Major Group at the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and participating in major events such as the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) and the UN Water Conference.