Innovative Thinkers and Practitioners Looking Ahead

Message from the Geneva Meeting

Tags: Small Producers Agency
Additional tags: Learning network , Agency

Farmer leaders, agribusiness entrepreneurs, researchers, nongovernmental organisations from across the world gathered near Geneva from the April 26- 29 to convene a new Learning Network on small-scale farmers, markets and globalisation. After four intensive working days in Geneva the Learning Network (LN) agreed on the main topics that they will work on over the next eighteen months. As the central pillar of the Knowledge Programme, the sixteen members of the LN discussed the dilemmas that small-scale producers are facing in the context of globalisation and looked forward over the next 10-20 years to the knowledge gaps that must be addressed in order for small scale producers to position themselves and informed choices.

A roundtable with renowned guest speakers, a debate with the author of a commissioned preparatory paper mapping the current debate and stating perspectives, a video based on Latin American farmers' stories and a field visit to dairy farmers and cooperatives in the Jura region of France, all contributed new insights to the debate. From South and Central America to Eastern Africa, India and Indonesia, common issues have been identified. Business entrepreneurs, researchers, farmers’ organisations leaders, NGOs providing services, all working directly in the world of agriculture and food, have agreed in two main topics or questions:

 

1) What are the public and private policies that have improved or will improve smallholder agency in the face of volatility driven by markets and globalisation?

 

2) What is the basis of "agency" in producer organisations and federations for dealing effectively with and demand services/information for facing that same volatility?

 

These questions will be addressed by interregional and multi-stakeholder working groups. In each country and region LN members will be working with other networks and will also commission studies. Evidence and quality are the main ingredients of the future products that will be delivered.

 

Adding value to the global debate and best, contributing to find sustainable solutions in which small scale producers are given their chance to compete in fair conditions and take advantage of opportunities while managing risks - is an enormous challenge. Mainumby, IIED, and Hivos, also member of the network, are confident that that this new group of people close to smallholder production and trade, will be able to integrate new knowledge and reshape the debate.

 

As by now, we invite you to watch the video on Changing Perspectives in Latin Americahttp://www.guarango.tv/files/IIED_SpanishLQ.mp4. You can also request the reports of the Geneva, Latin America, Africa and Asia Roundtables reports by contacting us at info@hivos.net.