Every October, during the Plenary Session of the United Nations Committee on World Food Security (CFS), the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) and its representatives from around the world attend a large number of events to represent the interests of those who feed the planet daily and ensure that the farmers’ voice is heard on the most relevant issues for humankind.
This year, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CFS 47 has been rescheduled to 8 – 12 February 2021, and the CFS will host the High-Level Virtual Special Event “Global Governance of Food Security and Nutrition”, taking place from 13 to 15 October 2020.

Exceptional representatives will compose the WFO delegation who will participate in this three days virtual event: the President Theo de Jager and three of the most active young farmers’ leaders who took part in the first edition of the WFO Gymnasium high-level capacity building programme will join the debate on food security and nutrition to reiterate that farmers, men, women, and youth, are the most powerful actors to accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.

Youth Engagement and Employment in Agrifood systems: What Works? What Doesn’t Work? What Could Work? – CFS Partner Event

14 October 2020, 11.00 AM to 12.30 PM CET

Organised by the Youth Alliance for Zero Hunger, Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD), Thought For Food (TFF), I4Nature, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate, Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), Rabobank and IFAD, the event aims at bringing youth voices and experiences on-the-ground to global agri-food policy discussion spaces. WFO will be represented by Diana Lenzi, a young woman farmer from the Italian farmers’ organisation ANGA-Giovani di Confagricoltura (a member of WFO) and alumna of the WFO Gymnsaium. REGISTER HERE.

It is worth mentioning that WFO is a member of the Youth Alliance for Zero Hunger. Formerly known as Rome-based Agencies (RBA) Youth Council, it is conceived to work as an advisory body to the UN Rome-based agencies for matters related to youth. ​Two young farmers, Bram Van Hecke from Belgium and Cryspin Kayitare from Rwanda, represent WFO in the group.

The Potential, Practice, and Politics of Repurposing Public Agriculture Support for Healthy People, Planet and Economy – CFS Partner Event

15 October 2020, 4.30 PM to 6 PM CET

The event is being co-organized by the Just Rural Transition Policy Action Coalition, the World Bank, and the World Farmers’ Organisation. The WFO President Theo de Jager and Veronica Barbati, President of Coldiretti Giovani Impresa (a member of WFO) and alumna of the WFO Gymnsaium, will join the panel to discuss the potential, practice, and politics of repurposing public agriculture policies and support as a means of advancing the aims of a productive, efficient, and sustainable agriculture. REGISTER HERE.

Ask a Farmer! – UNFSS “24-hour Global Relay” Session

16 October 2020, 5 PM to 6 PM CET

Organised by Farming First within a 24-hour “global relay” hosted by the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) on the occasion of the World Food Day to discuss the future of food systems, the event will feature the participation of the WFO President Theo de Jager and convene digitally among others farmers from North America, Africa and Asia, as well as other stakeholders who work with and for farmers, to talk about the challenges they face and the ways they constantly innovate to put food on our tables every day as sustainably as possible.  REGISTER HERE.

Youth World Food Day

16 October 2020, 11 AM to 4.30 PM CET

An initiative of I4NATURE in co-creation with Bayer, FoodFIRST, Council of Ede, World Food Center, Wageningen Youth Institute and Food & Business Knowledge Platform, this online youth-led event is held every year on 16 October and is part of the global World Food
Day, organised by FAO. This year’s theme is Food Chain Challenge. Denis Kabiito, facilitator of the WFO Youth Committee and CEO of Uganda National Young Farmers’Association (UNYFA), as well as alumnus of the WFO Gymnasium, will join the event to bring into the debate the young farmers’ perspective about how food chains are changing, also because of COVID19, and which opportunities lay behind the threats. REGISTER HERE.

These events are taking place on the occasion of the World Food Day Week that encompasses the global WORLD FOOD DAY ceremony on Friday, October 16. Pre-register to watch the ceremony from 14.00 CET by webinar HERE. You can also watch the event by webcast HERE.