Major Group: Farmers
Rio 2012 Prep Com
March 6, 2011
Statement by Farmers Major Group On Objectives
We believe the objectives of the conference should be to define a green
economy that closes the gaps in implementing Agenda 21.
One of those gaps is agriculture. Farming is about nourishing the
world’s people. It stands as a critical green endeavour. Every form of
agriculture must continuously improve the way in which it
produces food. It requires treatment as a separate issue.
Agriculture has been working to adopt techniques like conservation
tillage which protects soil and water. But in the 20 years since Rio,
farmers have increasingly had to do it on their own. Total investment in
agriculture development has dropped dramatically since the 1980’s.
Most concerningly, the vast majority of farmers are small holders, and
they are part of the world’s most poor and vulnerable. They have few
options, virtually no resources, and need help to achieve social,
economic and environmental goals. They face emerging challenges
such as drought and disaster risk reduction that need attention.
At Rio +20 we will be calling for more efforts in agriculture to:
1) Do more with less – finding ways to meet sustainable food production
while minimizing the ecological footprint of agriculture, such as
agroecological practices
2) Use a knowledge-based approach – applying best practice to all
forms of agriculture, as in CSD 17
3) Reduce poverty – farmers represent one half of the world’ s poor,
often women without adequate land tenure. Despite high-profile
promises, woefully few resources have truly begun to flow to them
To share the knowledge needed for farmers to do more with less, have
resilience to climate change, and break the poverty cycle, extension
services are essential. The networks of local experts that work with
farmers to transfer scientific expertise and combine with traditional best
practices have been decimated. We will be seeking their revitalization.
Afterall, everybody has to eat.
March 6, 2011
Statement by Farmers Major Group On Objectives
We believe the objectives of the conference should be to define a green
economy that closes the gaps in implementing Agenda 21.
One of those gaps is agriculture. Farming is about nourishing the
world’s people. It stands as a critical green endeavour. Every form of
agriculture must continuously improve the way in which it
produces food. It requires treatment as a separate issue.
Agriculture has been working to adopt techniques like conservation
tillage which protects soil and water. But in the 20 years since Rio,
farmers have increasingly had to do it on their own. Total investment in
agriculture development has dropped dramatically since the 1980’s.
Most concerningly, the vast majority of farmers are small holders, and
they are part of the world’s most poor and vulnerable. They have few
options, virtually no resources, and need help to achieve social,
economic and environmental goals. They face emerging challenges
such as drought and disaster risk reduction that need attention.
At Rio +20 we will be calling for more efforts in agriculture to:
1) Do more with less – finding ways to meet sustainable food production
while minimizing the ecological footprint of agriculture, such as
agroecological practices
2) Use a knowledge-based approach – applying best practice to all
forms of agriculture, as in CSD 17
3) Reduce poverty – farmers represent one half of the world’ s poor,
often women without adequate land tenure. Despite high-profile
promises, woefully few resources have truly begun to flow to them
To share the knowledge needed for farmers to do more with less, have
resilience to climate change, and break the poverty cycle, extension
services are essential. The networks of local experts that work with
farmers to transfer scientific expertise and combine with traditional best
practices have been decimated. We will be seeking their revitalization.
Afterall, everybody has to eat.