On 27 June 2025, the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) participated in the Sixth African Union (AU) – European Union (EU) Agriculture Ministerial Conference, held at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) headquarters in Rome. Alongside ministers, ambassadors and key stakeholders of the agricultural sector, several prominent representatives from WFO African and European Member Organisations actively contributed to the intercontinental dialogue on agriculture and rural development.

Convened under the overall theme “A sustainable future for agri-food systems,” the event aimed to enhance collaboration and partnerships while addressing current challenges facing the agri-food systems in both regions. The conference focused on four key shared priorities: investment and financing in agri-food value chains, sustainable practices and climate resilience, research, innovation, and technology, as well as market access and trade facilitation.

Among the WFO delegates, who actively engaged in high-level sessions and side events, were Kati Partanen, WFO Board Member (Finland); Betty Chinyamunyamu, CEO of the National Association of Smallholder Farmers of Malawi (NASFAM – Malawi); Tobias Gräs, Head of Policy at the Danish Agriculture & Food Council (DAFC – Denmark); Pieter Verhelst, Board Member at the Boerenbond (Belgium), and WFO Gymnasium Alumna Katariina Latva from the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK – Finland).

Also in attendance were Daniel Mwendah M’Mailutha, CEO of the Kenya National Farmers’ Federation (KENAFF – Kenya); Cristina Chirico, Head of the International Office at CIA Agricoltori Italiani (Italy); and Anicet Ndoricimpa, Policy Officer at the Confederation des Associations des Producteurs Agricoles pour le Développement (CAPAD – Burundi), together with members of the WFO International Secretariat, including Secretary General Andrea Porro.

Farmer-led Solutions on Resilience and Investments: Key Insights from Denmark and Malawi

In the session “Sustainable Practices and Climate Resilience,” DAFC’s Head of Policy, Tobias Gräs, presented Denmark’s perspective, sharing best practices on how to shape measures and policies to improve the resilience and sustainability of agriculture. During his intervention, two key points resonated with the audience: first, agriculture must be recognised as part of the solution to mitigating climate change; second, partnerships are essential for ensuring the sector’s sustainability and resilience.

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At the same time, in the session “Investments and Financing in the Agri-Food Value Chains,” NASFAM’s CEO, Betty Chinyamunyamu, highlighted how her organisation is assisting smallholder farmers to access the resources necessary for their farming businesses. She stated:

“Empowering small-scale farmers to move up the value chain is key to sustainable food systems. Farmers’ organisations are enablers of trust and investment, helping farmers access markets, finance, and opportunities.”

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The Essential Role of Farmers’ Organisations in AU-EU Agricultural Cooperation

At the side event, “Enhancing Investment, Sustainability, and Trade: The Role of Farmers and Farmers’ Organizations (FOs) in African Union (AU) – European Union (EU) Agricultural Cooperation in the context of the CAADP Kampala Declaration and the European Commission’ Vision for agriculture and food” co-organised by Pan-African Farmers Organization and AgriCord, WFO Board Member Kati Partanen, along with Betty Chinyamunyamu (NASFAM) and Pieter Verhelst (Boerenbond), highlighted the vital role of farmers’ organisations in advocating for farmers’ interests and translating policies into action on the ground.

Partanen stressed the importance of peer-to-peer learning, citing the WFO’s efforts to ensure that farmers are not only included in policy processes but also recognised as true partners in advancing these processes.

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Chinyamunyamu remarked on the financial challenges faced by smallholder farmers, reiterating the crucial role that farmers’ organisations and capacity-building play in unlocking resources for them.

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Verhelst concluded the side event by describing farmers’ organisations as bridges between farmers and policymakers, facilitating the alignment of shared goals and helping to overcome challenges between the two sides.

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Young Farmers’ Voice Resonates at the AU-EU Agriculture Ministerial Conference Plenary

In the closing plenary, WFO Gymnasium Alumna Katariina Latva brought the voice of young farmers to the centre. In her keynote address, she reflected on similar challenges that younger generations in both Europe and Africa face in agriculture, such as access to finance, unpredictable weather conditions, and the pressure to feed a growing population. She left the audience with the powerful message:

“The hand that feeds us must not be punished or burdened—or there will be no hands in the future.”

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The participation of WFO delegates in the AU-EU Ministerial Conference reaffirmed the vital role of farmers and their organisations as agents of change, not just implementers of top-down strategies.

Cover photo: ©WFO