As Vice Chair of the UN Decade of Family Farming (UNDFF) 2019–2028 International Steering Committee, the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) actively contributed to the First Global Forum on Policy Solutions for Family Farming, held at FAO Headquarters in Rome on 24–25 September 2025.

The Forum brought together governments, international organisations, farmers’ organisations, and civil society to exchange experiences and chart policy pathways to strengthen family farming as a cornerstone of sustainable food systems and rural livelihoods. WFO was represented by Board Member Kati Partanen (Finland), Gymnasium Alumna Evangelista Chekera (Zimbabwe), and Luisa Volpe, Advocacy, Policy and Partnerships Lead at the International Secretariat.

Opening the discussions, Kati Partanen underlined the mounting pressures on family farmers, from volatile markets to climate shocks and geopolitical crises. She stressed that women family farmers, in particular, carry much of the burden yet remain excluded from secure access to land and resources. WFO is preparing a new policy on land tenure that will embed the perspective of women family farmers, framing it as “not only a matter of fairness, but also a strategic investment in resilient and productive food systems.” She also pointed to 2026, the International Year of Women Farmers, as a moment to spotlight their leadership and strengthen the fabric of family farming worldwide. She closed with a strong call to action: “Let this Forum drive practical, evidence-based, farmer-led policies to fulfil our shared goals: ending hunger, protecting the environment, and fostering inclusive, sustainable societies.”.

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From a youth perspective, Evangelista Chekera highlighted how fragile market access can make or break the future of young family farmers. She shared her own experience of losing $2000 in her poultry business due to the lack of cold storage — a vivid reminder of the infrastructure gaps that undermine rural livelihoods. But she also showcased innovation, presenting an off-grid device she designed to reduce chick mortality, now in use by small-scale farmers in Zimbabwe. Her message was clear: “We ask for fair rules, equal opportunities, and policies that allow us to compete and thrive. Investing in market access is not only about raising incomes, but also about sustaining rural communities and ensuring resilient food systems.” She urged decision-makers to ensure that farming becomes “a sector where young people see opportunities, not obstacles.”

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Closing the Forum, Luisa Volpe reflected on what makes family farmers unique: families who run farms as businesses, bearing risks while ensuring society’s most vital service — food security. She stressed the critical role of farmers’ organisations, built by farmers themselves to represent those who cannot always be present, and urged governments and institutions to involve them in policy design and implementation. “Policies should be co-designed with farmers’ organisations, because they have the knowledge, the data, and the closest understanding of farmers’ needs,” she said. Looking ahead, she challenged participants to ensure that family farmers are fully integrated into national strategies and positioned in value chains as partners in building sustainable food systems.

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Together, these interventions reaffirmed WFO’s commitment to ensuring that family farmers remain at the heart of global food systems transformation and to working with partners throughout the UNDFF to deliver inclusive, farmer-driven policy solutions.

Cover photo: ©WFO