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Press Release
April 22, 2008, Paris, France - In the midst of a deepening global food crisis, the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) will address agricultural issues for the first time in ten years at its 16th review session from May 5 to 16, 2008. The International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP), which represents the interests of more than 600 million farm families worldwide, will present the farmers’ vision for sustainable development, which must be heeded by governments worldwide to avert global catastrophe. IFAP President Jack Wilkinson posed the question, “If food shortage is the fundamental problem facing the world, where is the response by national governments in partnership with their farmers to resolve it? He went on to say, “We’ve got enough land, we’ve got enough resources and we’ve got enough farmers. We just don’t have enough good agricultural policy or the political will to get on a path towards sustainable development.” IFAP is calling on CSD member governments to develop effective programs to promote the development of farming sectors that are productive, profitable and sustainable, particularly for small-scale farmers. IFAP has sent a letter to all CSD members addressing farmers’ concerns, ranging from climate change and land tenure issues to bioenergy and farmer centered rural development strategies. Visit www.ifap.org to download IFAP’s letter to CSD members and the complete discussion paper IFAP prepared for the Farmers’ Major Group, one of the nine civil society categories for public participation. “Over a hundred years ago, strong farmer organizations were formed in developed countries as a way for farmers to consolidate their power base. They didn’t have help from donor agencies, and out of necessity created farmer centered institutions,” intoned Wilkinson. He continued, “Today, the FAO, IFAD, NGOs and others should be making efforts to consolidate the strengths of the different farm groups that they are working with so that they have a real influence on policy discussions and in marketing chains to improve farmers' livelihoods." Agriculture needs to be given a much higher priority on development agendas, with a strong participatory role given to farmers’ organizations, in helping the world to achieve a sustainable future. Government withdrawal from supporting agricultural services is destabilizing rural economies and exacerbating poverty. Governments need to strengthen their engagement with farmers and other stakeholders to exploit the full potential of agriculture in reducing poverty and conserving natural resources. Wilkinson emphasized, “It’s time to act instead of talk, it’s time to plant fields instead of having conferences, and it’s time for national governments – with their farmers – to take their responsibilities seriously.” IFAP President Jack Wilkinson will be available for in-person interviews between May 13-15, 2008 in New York. Please call +33-6-23-51-06-63 or contact either Neil Sorensen or Jessica Goodfellow for scheduling. IFAP is the farmers' voice at the world level, and has been advocating farmers’ interests at the international level since 1946. IFAP’s mission is to develop farmers’ capacities to influence decisions that affect them at both the domestic and international levels. www.ifap.org -030- 
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Neil SORENSEN Communications Coordinator Email: neil.sorensen@ifap.org Jessica GOODFELLOW Communications Officer E-mail: jessica.goodfellow@ifap.org Phone:+33 1 45 26 05 53 Fax: +33 1 48 74 72 12 
IFAP is the world farmers’ organization representing over 600 million farm families grouped in 100 national organizations in 70 countries.
IFAP is a global network in which farmers from industrialzed and developing countries exchange concerns and set common priorities.
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