On 10 April 2025, the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) officially launched its Task Force on Land Use, marking the first step in developing a new institutional policy on land use and tenure. The launch meeting brought together Task Force members and WFO member organisations from around the world, contributing diverse regional perspectives on some of the most pressing land-related challenges faced by farmers today.

The initiative follows a mandate from the WFO General Assembly in June 2024 to develop a new policy on land use expected to be adopted in 2026.

Discussions during the kick-off meeting addressed how to balance agricultural land use with competing demands such as emission offsetting and energy infrastructure, the importance of secure land tenure in attracting long-term investment, and the need to uphold the rights of small and medium-scale producers to free, prior, and informed consent. Participants also explored challenges in peri-urban areas, where urban expansion increasingly threatens farmland, and examined how strengthening tenure security can improve access to finance for farmers.

Land use and land tenure are fundamental to the livelihoods of farmers and the sustainability of agriculture, with secure and equitable land rights being key to food security, rural development, and natural resource management. The upcoming policy aims to promote fair and inclusive land tenure systems globally, reinforcing WFO’s commitment to ensuring farmers’ rights are recognised and protected.

To lead this process, the WFO Board appointed a dedicated Task Force of expert representatives from member organisations.

The Task Force includes Duncan Goetze from the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA-FCA); Eleonor Griggs from the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), United Kingdom; Warwick Ragg from the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF), Australia; Laureen Ongesa from the Kenya National Farmers’ Federation (KENAFF); and Jenny Hunnakko from the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK), Finland.

The outcomes of this initial consultation will be compiled into a report for presentation at the 2025 Internal Affairs Session of the WFO General Assembly, informing the next steps in the policy development process.

This marks a significant step towards a farmer-led, forward-looking, and consensus-based approach to land use and tenure—grounded in the lived experiences of WFO members and their shared vision for a more sustainable and secure agricultural future.

Cover photo by ©WFO