36th World Farmers' Congress 2004

Agriculture Leaders Kick Off World Farmers’ Congress Today

Washington, D.C., 2 June 2004 – More than 400 farmers from 70 countries are gathering in Washington, D.C., this week for the World Farmers’ Congress of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP), hosted by the National Farmers Union. “Farmers speaking for themselves, working with each other, working with our national and international partners to solve huge fundamental problems that face the farmers of the world, this is why we are here today. We are working to improve the livelihood of all farmers,” said Jack Wilkinson, the IFAP President.

“We farmers need strong organizations at all levels, having the capacity to formulate our concerns and defend them. The international bodies whose job is to deal with poverty, food production, nutrition, environment and agriculture have to be much more willing to not just invite us to their meetings, but be very inclusive in looking at us as equal partners to national governments and equal in all methods and ways to help make things happen,” said Wilkinson.

NFU president Dave Frederickson stressed the importance of the global agriculture community speaking with one voice when possible. “With today’s political climate, it is more important than ever for farmers to take an active role in policies that shape our own destinies,” he said. “We will use the resolutions developed during the World Farmers’ Congress on international trade, industrial concentration and environmental issues to pressure international organizations to make positive changes in world agricultural policies.”

United Nations Undersecretary General and World Food Prize laureate Catherine Bertini presented the keynote opening address on world peace and stability. She underlined UN Secretary General Kofi Anan’s commitment to end poverty and hunger and to spare no effort to reach the Millennium Development Goals. “I think I should say thank you to you, because of this food you bring to us, you feed us!” she said. “Farmers have a commitment to food production and the land and it should be the responsibility of the UN and the rest of the world to give farmers a helping hand.”

The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman shared her vision for a modern, profitable global development of agriculture. One of the topics she discussed was biotechnology. “There are 6 billion people in the world to feed. To feed them we must improve productivity through science and technology, including biotechnology,” she said.

Under the theme “Farmers Speaking for Themselves,” this biennial Congress and the first to be held in the U.S. for 29 years, is the occasion for farmers to challenge world leaders on global issues, such as the WTO trade negotiations, environment, poverty and food security, and industrial concentration. Moreover, this is the occasion for worldwide farmers to exchange common concerns and to propose their ideas to find solutions.