Family farmers, who are leading the global efforts to combat malnutrition by
producing 80 percent of the world's food, need stronger support in the
middle of increasing hunger and obesity worldwide, according to UN General
Assembly President, Maria Fernanda Espinosa.

"In a world where one-third of the food produced is lost or wasted and one
third of land is used for livestock production, they are vital socioeconomic
actors who can support improved livelihoods, job creation, community
cohesion, and development in rural areas," she said to more than 300
participants of an international dialogue on May 26, 2019 in Rome, Italy,
co-organized by UN Food and Agriculture Organization and International Fund
for Agricultural Development to tackle family farming challenges and
opportunities.

This was followed by the launch of the United Nations Decade of Family
Farming (2019-2028) and a Global Plan to increase support for family farmers
on May 29, 2019. This new initiative aims to create a conducive environment
that strengthens the position of family farming, and maximizes family
farmers' contributions to global food security and nutrition. It also opens
opportunity for governments to adopt policies that support sustainable and
diversified family farming and to move towards a new paradigm for food
systems and rural development where the focus is "not solely on production
but on how to address socioeconomic and environmental sustainability in
tandem."

[www.fao.org]