Today, February 8, the distinguished members of the Scientific Council of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) convened digitally for their first meeting of 2023.
Created in 2020, the Scientific Council is an independent scientific body composed of scientists, experts and professors from across the globe to equip WFO with the best scientific advice to enhance further the science-sound perspectives of the farmers’ voice in the international debate around agriculture and food systems.
The meeting was the occasion for an overview of the work done up to date and a constructive and forward-looking conversation on the 2023 work plan and the next steps to move forward.
Opening the meeting, WFO Secretary General Arianna Giuliodori highlighted the idea behind creating a Scientific Council and its crucial role. “WFO work is guided by three principles: Farmer-driven, Solution-oriented, and Science-based. You, members of the Scientific Council, are the guarantee of this third principle, which grants that WFO policies, communications and advocacy messages are based on science,” she stated.
“It is a political mandate of our Board and our General Assembly to stick to this principle and to reinforce it, and that’s why we are here today to find out together how we can make this happen.”
The meeting featured the participation of Professor Margaret Flaherty of the IÉSEG School of Management, Paris & Business School, Lausanne; Professor Peer Ederer from the Zeppelin University, Switzerland; Professor Daniel Berckmans of the University of Leuven, Belgium; Mashid Dehghan, Investigator of the Department of Medicine McMaster University, USA; Professor Sandro Dernini at CIHEAM (Mediterranean pattern diet), Italy; Professor Frederic Leroy from the Brussels Free University; Doctor Susan MacMillan, Emeritus Fellow at International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), CGIAR; Professor Geneviève Parent from the Université Laval, Québec, Canada; Professor Angelo Riccaboni, Member of the Leadership Council of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Solutions Network; Mr Dawie Roodt Director & Chief Economist at Efficient Group Ltd. and at Efficient Select (Pty) Ltd, South Africa; Professor Nina Teicholz, Executive Director of The Nutrition Coalition, USA; Professor James Nelson Blignaut from Stellenbosch University, South Africa; Professor Bruno Ronchi from the University of Viterbo “La Tuscia”.
By the end, all the participants reaffirmed their interest and commitment to work with WFO in the long journey of establishing a farmer-driven, solution-oriented, science-based approach in global decision-making on agriculture.