On 24 February, the Secretary General of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO), Dr Andrea Porro, met with the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Ms Astrid Schomaker, to explore the creation of spaces for greater farmer engagement in biodiversity decision-making discussions.

The meeting comes at a crucial time, with the UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP 16) Resumed Sessions set to reconvene at FAO Headquarters in Rome from 25 to 27 February 2025 to resolve the outstanding decisions from the negotiations in Cali, including resource mobilisation, the financial mechanism, and the monitoring and planning of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

Central to the conversation was the critical role farmers, who currently manage around one-third of the world’s land, play in preserving biodiversity and managing natural resources sustainably. With about two-thirds of the GBF targets directly related to the agricultural sector, the role of farmers becomes even more significant. Yet, for far too long, their voice has been missing from key global discussions that significantly impact the agricultural sector.

Dr Porro emphasised the importance of engaging farmers and their organisations as essential partners in biodiversity conservation efforts, particularly in the revision and updating of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs). Making plans for agriculture without farmers may be a very improvident solution. The lack of farmers’ involvement is not only a question of inclusivity; it undermines the effectiveness of such exercises and the probability that they can result in actions on the ground.

The discussion also touched upon the possibility of establishing a formal mechanism for farmers’ engagement in the CBD COP process, reinforcing the need for a dedicated space where farmers can contribute meaningfully to biodiversity policymaking.

This meeting marks an important step in WFO’s ongoing advocacy for a farmer-centric approach to mainstreaming the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity across the agricultural sectors. WFO remains committed to ensuring that farmers have a sit at the table when discussions in the CBD COP process take place.

Cover photo by ©WFO