The World Food Day celebrated today, 16 October, highlights the importance of agricultural cooperatives for the global food system. This is an example of successful practice because, in addition to its contribution to world food security, it benefits farmers themselves and results in the development of rural areas.
The World Food Day celebrated today, 16 October, highlights the importance of agricultural cooperatives for the global food system. This is an example of successful practice because, in addition to its contribution to world food security, it benefits farmers themselves and results in the development of rural areas.
The latest report on hunger, published by the UNO last week, warns of 870 million people suffering from chronic malnutrition in the world. A figure which, although representing a reduction in hunger over previous years, leads us to a chronic food crisis.
In an opinion piece published in various media, the secretariat of World Rural Forum appeals to political heads and leaders of international organisations to lend full support to family farmers throughout the world.
A lot has been done and there are many examples of success in changing political priorities in favour of Family Farming. “One clear example is the promotion of agricultural cooperativism which, both in the North and South, has boosted the development of small producers focused on projects that allow them to gain in dimension, improve their productive capacity and negotiating power, among others. Something which is also beneficial for a healthy rural economy”, highlights Jose Mari Zeberio, Executive Secretary of the World Rural Forum.
This year sees the celebration of the International Year of Cooperatives and, precisely, agricultural cooperatives arise as the central theme in World Food Day. “The successful agricultural cooperative model demonstrated that different foci exist for the management of the sector”, claims Zeberio.
Within two years there will be a new opportunity to highlight the existence of other alternatives, with the International Year of Family Farming 2014. All this confirms the existence of routes towards guaranteeing healthy food for the whole world, options that are respectful with the sustainability of the planet. Shared routes to move away from the brink of starvation.
