The Public Forum is the largest outreach event of the World Trade Organization (WTO). It provides a unique platform for interested stakeholders from around the world to discuss the latest developments in global trade and propose ways of enhancing the multilateral trading system. For farmers, it represents a crucial opportunity to make their voices heard and to strengthen their role in global agricultural trade discussions and policy development, championing a more inclusive, fair, and sustainable trading system for agriculture that delivers real benefits for farmers themselves, their communities, and the world.

On 17–18 September 2025, the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) joined the Forum in Geneva with a strong delegation of members — Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA-FCA), Dutch Agriculture and Horticulture Association (LTO), Finnish Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK), Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), Kenya National Farmers’ Federation (KENAFF), National Farmers’ Union of England and Wales (NFU), Norges Bondelag and Schweizer Bauernverband — alongside representatives of the WFO International Secretariat, including Secretary General Andrea Porro.

Digital Trade for Farmers: Inclusive, Trusted and Empowering

This year’s Forum explored how digital advancements are reshaping the international trading system, fostering connectivity, innovation, and cooperation.

In this context, the WFO hosted the official working session “Data-Secured Farmers-to-Market Connection via Digitalisation“.

The session explored how digital trade frameworks can create new opportunities for farmers – including those currently disconnected from international markets – while addressing core concerns around data ownership, privacy, transparency, as well as skills and infrastructure gaps. Grounded in WFO’s new Policy on Digitalisation & AI, the discussion aimed to connect global trade policy with farmers’ lived realities, asking what it will take for digital agricultural trade to become inclusive, trusted, and empowering and how WTO standards can support—not hinder—the participation of farmers in the global digital economy. Explore the full session highlights here.

Farmers’ Perspectives Across the Forum

Beyond its own session, WFO amplified farmers’ perspectives across the Forum.

Secretary General Andrea Porro took part in the session “No Farm Left Behind: Trade-Driven Digital Innovation“ organised by CropLife International, outlining WFO’s priorities on stronger international standards, data accountability, access to innovation, and the recognition of farmers’ organisations as key actors.

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Meanwhile, Benjamin Bett (KENAFF) brought the Kenyan perspective to the session “Digitally Delivered: Trustworthy Data from Field to Table“, organised by the Permanent Mission of the EU to the WTO and COPA-COGECA. He shared concrete examples of how data collected from farmers is being used to support them, from accessing microfinance to strengthening capacity-building initiatives.

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From Geneva to Yaoundé: Preparing for MC14

On the sidelines of the Forum, the WFO delegation held a series of bilateral meetings with WTO officials and members, consolidating its role as a trusted interlocutor on agricultural trade.

Meetings included exchanges with the Permanent Mission of China to the WTO, the EU Mission to the WTO, and the WTO Agriculture & Commodities Division.

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Following the Forum, WFO also held a one-on-one meeting with WTO Director-General Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who recognised WFO as a unique member-based organisation, capable of building consensus across a diverse global constituency of farmers on critical trade issues— a valuable example for the multilateral trading system itself.

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Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala reaffirmed her commitment to engage with farmers through the WTO Civil Society Advisory Group and through direct consultations. She also invited WFO to actively participate in the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14), to be held on 26–29 March 2026 in Yaoundé, Cameroon, with the hope of achieving a meaningful agreement on agriculture.

For WFO, these engagements marked an important step towards ensuring that trade policy is not only relevant but firmly grounded in farmers’ lived realities – strengthening the link between global decision-making and the people who feed the world.

Cover photo: ©WTO/Pierre Albouy