At a time when global food systems are under growing pressure from climate shocks, market disruptions, and rising inequalities, the President of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO), Arnold Puech d’Alissac, brought the voices of farmers to the forefront at the World Economic Forum’s 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, held from 24 to 26 June 2025 in Tianjin, China.

Known as the “Summer Davos”, the meeting convened over 1,700 high-level participants from governments, businesses, international organisations, media, academia, and civil society to explore how entrepreneurship and innovation can drive economic resilience and sustainability, especially in emerging markets.

President Puech d’Alissac intervened in two key sessions, delivering strong messages on the challenges and opportunities that farmers face across different development contexts and the pressing need for more inclusive, farmer-driven innovation and market frameworks.

Advocating for inclusive and locally adapted agricultural development

Speaking in the high-level session “The Next Agricultural Transformation”, the WFO President emphasised that there is no one-size-fits-all model of agricultural development. Small-scale farmers, particularly in the Global South, are vital to global food security, yet face systemic obstacles — from limited market access to a lack of finance and appropriate technologies — that leave them especially exposed to climate risks and policy shortfalls. Larger-scale farms, while often equipped with greater capital and technology, are under increasing pressure to enhance their environmental and social performance. Both systems, he stressed, are essential and must be supported through complementary approaches.

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On innovation, President Puech d’Alissac underscored that true agricultural transformation goes beyond technology. It must be social, institutional, and developed in partnership with farmers. While digital tools can boost productivity and resilience, their benefits will only be realised if they are accessible, inclusive, and uphold farmers’ autonomy — particularly for women and young farmers. He cautioned against innovation pathways that risk widening inequalities, instead calling for stronger rural infrastructure, enhanced knowledge exchange, and fair access mechanisms.

In addressing market dynamics, he challenged the treatment of food as a commodity, underlining its cultural and nutritional significance. He noted that market volatility — driven by climate change, geopolitical tensions, and trade fragility — undermines farmers’ livelihoods and long-term food security. He called on agri-food companies to move beyond mere commitments and invest in transparent, place-based partnerships with local farmers.

To make markets work for farmers, he called for co-developed solutions — both immediate and long-term — that build resilience, support preparedness, and ensure fair value distribution across the chain.

WFO President’s remarks underscored the pressing need for an inclusive agricultural transformation based on cooperation, local knowledge, and respect for the diverse realities and rights of farmers worldwide.

Addressing water scarcity through farmer-led innovation

In his second intervention, during the session “Public Xchange on Food Frontiers”, President Puech d’Alissac turned the spotlight on water scarcity and the role of farmer-led innovation in tackling climate-driven resource challenges. He stressed that farmers are on the frontline of climate disruption, with water shortages among the most immediate threats to agricultural production, particularly in regions such as the Mediterranean.

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He highlighted the need for access to drought-resilient technologies, climate-smart irrigation systems, and data-driven tools like AI-powered weather risk prediction — all of which must be co-designed with farmers to ensure usability and long-term impact.

Drawing from direct experiences piloting such tools — including soil moisture monitoring and digital irrigation solutions — he underscored that innovation must be accessible, adaptable, and developed with farmers, not just for them.

He concluded with a strong call to action for enabling environments that include access to data, funding for agri-tech, and the creation of inclusive innovation ecosystems. “Farmers are ready to act,” he stated, “but they need partners who understand the field — not just the lab.”

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