From September 17 to 18, a delegation from the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) will participate in the WTO Public Forum 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland, held under the theme: “Enhance, create, and preserve.”

The Public Forum is the largest outreach event of the World Trade Organization (WTO). It provides a unique platform for interested stakeholders from around the world to discuss the latest developments in global trade and propose ways of enhancing the multilateral trading system.

This year’s Public Forum will explore how digital advancements are redefining standards within the international trading system and enhancing global connectivity, innovation, and cooperation.

The WFO Delegation will contribute actively to the debate at the Forum and engage in bilateral meetings with WTO and relevant stakeholders. The WFO will also be hosting an official working session, discussing a farmer-driven and solution-oriented approach to digital trade that ensures inclusive participation, fair data governance, and international standards that truly empower farmers and strengthen their connection to global markets.

WFO Delegation to the WTO Public Forum 2025

• Brodie Berrigan – from the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA-FCA), Facilitator of the WFO Working Group on International Trade
• Klaas Johan Osinga – from the Dutch Agriculture and Horticulture Association (LTO)
• Juha Ruippo – from the Finnish Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK)
• Liam MacHale – from the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA)
• Benjamin Kipkirui Bett – from the Kenya National Farmers’ Federation (KENAFF)
• David Exwood, Lucia Zitti, Robin Manning, Emily Brown, and Joe Osborne – from the National Farmers’ Union of England and Wales (NFU), with Zitti also a member of the WFO Working Group on International Trade
• Bodhild Fjelltveit and Hildegunn Gjengedal – Norges Bondelag, with Gjengedal also a member of the WFO Working Group on International Trade
• Beat Röösli and Nadine Trottmann – from the Schweizer Bauernverband

WFO Secretary General Andrea Porro, Luisa Volpe, Advocacy, Policy and Partnerships Practice Leader, Macaulay Jones, Scientific Council Liaison Officer, and Marija Dumic, Junior Communications Officer, will also join the delegation.

WFO-Led and Featured Sessions at WTO Public Forum 2025

Thursday, 18^th September 2025 | 09:00-10:15 CEST | Data Secured Farmers-to-market Connection via Digitalisation | Speakers: Brodie Berrigan (CFA); Bodhild Fjelltveit (Norwegian Farmers’ Union); Benjamin Kipkirui Bett (KENAFF); David Exwood (NFU UK) | WEBCAST

This session, hosted by WFO, will explore how digital trade frameworks can create new opportunities for farmers while addressing key concerns around data ownership, privacy, transparency, and the skills and infrastructure needs. Grounded in WFO’s new Policy on Digitalization & AI, the session will connect global trade policy discussions with farmers’ lived realities.

Thursday, 18^th September 2025 | 10:45-12:00 CEST | No Farm Left Behind: Trade-Driven Digital Innovation | Organised by CropLife International (CLI) | Speakers: WFO Secretary General Andrea Porro

Thursday, 18^th September 2025 | 17:00-18:15 CEST | Digitally Delivered: trustworthy data from field to table | Organised by Permanent Mission of the EU to the WTO; EU Farmers and Agricultural Cooperatives (COPA-COGECA) | Speakers: Benjamin Bett (KENAFF)

Stay tuned for more updates from the event!