The United
Nations officially kicked off its 2014 International Year of Family Farming
(IYFF) campaign on Friday. The 2014 IYFF is an initiative that seeks to raise
the profile of family farming and promote broad discussion and cooperation at
the national, regional and global levels.
The 2014 is
promoted by the World Rural Forum (WRF) and supported by over 360 civil society
and farmers’ organizations. One supportive association is the U.S. National
Committee, whose member organizations include: National Farmers Union, U.S.
Department of Agriculture (advisory member), Alliance to End Hunger, American
Farmland Trust (AFT), Consumer Federation of America, and the National
Cooperative Business Association.
Because
family farmers are key to continued stewardship and protection of farmland for
future generations, AFT’s participation will further serve our mission of protecting
farmland, promoting sound farming practices and keeping farmers on the land.
All this
work is being made from the perspective of effectively combating poverty and
hunger and searching for rural development based on the respect for environment
and biodiversity.
AFT has
been invited to serve on the U.S. national committee that will be conducting
events and outreach in the next year to showcase family farming.