Summary of the Interactive Dialogue with Ministers, Major Groups & the UN System
Major groups, government Ministers and representatives of the UN system participated in an interactive dialogue
entitled ¡°Implementing Sustainable Development¡± on the morning of 12 May 2009. The session was opened with
general remarks by CSD©\17 Chair Verburg, followed by a statement from Rachael Mayanja, DESA Assistant Secretary©\
General and Special Adviser to the UN Secretary©\General on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women.
During the first half of the session, presentations by each of the nine major groups¡¯ sectors were followed by interactive
discussion. The second half featured presentations and discussion on four specific topics presented by multiple major
groups¡¯ sectors: (i) the ¡°Farming First¡± model, (ii) rural development, (iii) urban©\rural linkages for food security and
vibrant markets, and (iv) secure land tenure and water rights.
Throughout this dialogue, speakers were unanimous in emphasizing the need for bold CSD©\17 outcomes that would
include specific, action©\oriented policies to be carried forward by all implementation actors, and allow major groups to
play a participatory role in sustainable long©\term approaches to agriculture and rural development, especially in Africa.
Ministers and heads of UN entities agreed that farmers¡ªparticularly small farmers¡ªare at the heart of sustainable
agriculture, proclaimed willingness to support shared priorities, asserted that major groups are powerful agents within
the multilateral process, and urged greater coherence in leadership within the major groups¡¯ community. Several
Ministers added that progress within the major groups¡¯ community must be supported by sound national policies on
sustainable development.
Women, youth, farmers, indigenous peoples and workers and trade unions at the national and local levels must be
empowered as actors in rural development. Without the recognition of rights to land, water, food and food sovereignty,
coupled with an enabling policy environment and increased budgets for research and development of small©\scale
agriculture, efforts to provide realistic and workable policy solutions would fail on the ground. The ecosystem approach
and human rights approach, which prioritize traditional knowledge within local and regional systems, remain essential,
albeit difficult to implement. In this regard, legislation must be strengthened to ensure that land rights and land tenure
systems can be reformed in accordance with the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Convention on
Biological Diversity, and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
Discussion also revolved around ways to foster linkages that could mitigate the negative impacts of rural©\urban
migration and stimulate local economic development by building infrastructure, shortening the market chain, and
creating high©\quality jobs through access to micro©\credit schemes, public©\private partnerships, investing in extension
services, and South©\South cooperation. Ministers noted that improved agricultural outreach and simple mechanization
tools could inspire more youth to choose rural livelihoods and sustain rural incomes. Major groups and several Ministers
agreed that NGOs, local authorities, and the scientific and technological community require additional resources,
support and technological tools to conduct research, provide access to training and education, strengthen the
knowledge base through access to data, and facilitate capacity building in local communities that is participatory and
inclusive. Several UN entities described collaboration in this regard, with aims to improve the ability of communities to
adapt to climate change by assessing risks and protecting food, water, and energy resources.
Farmers, the scientific and technological community, and business and industry collectively advocated an integrated
approach to agriculture and food security¡ªthe Farming First model¡ªthat emphasizes safeguarding natural resources,
sharing knowledge, building local access, protecting harvests, enabling access to markets, and prioritizing research
imperatives. Local authorities and NGOs stressed that making urban market facilities accessible to regional and local
producers would create more carbon©\neutral communities and constitute a step toward food system resilience in all
regions, while providing a buffer from global food system prices and supply stocks. The SARD Initiative launched as a
result of the multi©\stakeholder dialogue during CSD©\8 was cited as a multilateral partnership that has proven successful.
Several Ministers prioritized food sovereignty over food security, while one Minister countered that development of a
strong agricultural economic base would eliminate the need to choose one over the other, noting ongoing South©\South
cooperation in this area.
entitled ¡°Implementing Sustainable Development¡± on the morning of 12 May 2009. The session was opened with
general remarks by CSD©\17 Chair Verburg, followed by a statement from Rachael Mayanja, DESA Assistant Secretary©\
General and Special Adviser to the UN Secretary©\General on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women.
During the first half of the session, presentations by each of the nine major groups¡¯ sectors were followed by interactive
discussion. The second half featured presentations and discussion on four specific topics presented by multiple major
groups¡¯ sectors: (i) the ¡°Farming First¡± model, (ii) rural development, (iii) urban©\rural linkages for food security and
vibrant markets, and (iv) secure land tenure and water rights.
Throughout this dialogue, speakers were unanimous in emphasizing the need for bold CSD©\17 outcomes that would
include specific, action©\oriented policies to be carried forward by all implementation actors, and allow major groups to
play a participatory role in sustainable long©\term approaches to agriculture and rural development, especially in Africa.
Ministers and heads of UN entities agreed that farmers¡ªparticularly small farmers¡ªare at the heart of sustainable
agriculture, proclaimed willingness to support shared priorities, asserted that major groups are powerful agents within
the multilateral process, and urged greater coherence in leadership within the major groups¡¯ community. Several
Ministers added that progress within the major groups¡¯ community must be supported by sound national policies on
sustainable development.
Women, youth, farmers, indigenous peoples and workers and trade unions at the national and local levels must be
empowered as actors in rural development. Without the recognition of rights to land, water, food and food sovereignty,
coupled with an enabling policy environment and increased budgets for research and development of small©\scale
agriculture, efforts to provide realistic and workable policy solutions would fail on the ground. The ecosystem approach
and human rights approach, which prioritize traditional knowledge within local and regional systems, remain essential,
albeit difficult to implement. In this regard, legislation must be strengthened to ensure that land rights and land tenure
systems can be reformed in accordance with the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Convention on
Biological Diversity, and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
Discussion also revolved around ways to foster linkages that could mitigate the negative impacts of rural©\urban
migration and stimulate local economic development by building infrastructure, shortening the market chain, and
creating high©\quality jobs through access to micro©\credit schemes, public©\private partnerships, investing in extension
services, and South©\South cooperation. Ministers noted that improved agricultural outreach and simple mechanization
tools could inspire more youth to choose rural livelihoods and sustain rural incomes. Major groups and several Ministers
agreed that NGOs, local authorities, and the scientific and technological community require additional resources,
support and technological tools to conduct research, provide access to training and education, strengthen the
knowledge base through access to data, and facilitate capacity building in local communities that is participatory and
inclusive. Several UN entities described collaboration in this regard, with aims to improve the ability of communities to
adapt to climate change by assessing risks and protecting food, water, and energy resources.
Farmers, the scientific and technological community, and business and industry collectively advocated an integrated
approach to agriculture and food security¡ªthe Farming First model¡ªthat emphasizes safeguarding natural resources,
sharing knowledge, building local access, protecting harvests, enabling access to markets, and prioritizing research
imperatives. Local authorities and NGOs stressed that making urban market facilities accessible to regional and local
producers would create more carbon©\neutral communities and constitute a step toward food system resilience in all
regions, while providing a buffer from global food system prices and supply stocks. The SARD Initiative launched as a
result of the multi©\stakeholder dialogue during CSD©\8 was cited as a multilateral partnership that has proven successful.
Several Ministers prioritized food sovereignty over food security, while one Minister countered that development of a
strong agricultural economic base would eliminate the need to choose one over the other, noting ongoing South©\South
cooperation in this area.