Interregional Dialogue in Cairo Concludes with Valuable Commitments for Family Farming Innovation

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concluded the LAC–NENA Family Farming Interregional Dialogue, held in Cairo on 7–8 July 2025. The two-day event brought together participants from the Near East and North Africa (NENA) and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to exchange experiences, build partnerships, and promote policy solutions that strengthen family farming systems.

Jointly organized by FAO’s Regional Offices for NENA and LAC as part of the activities of the Regional Technical Platform on Family Farming, the Dialogue highlighted the shared challenges and opportunities facing smallholder and family farmers in both regions, with a strong focus on inclusive innovation, climate resilience, and sustainable rural transformation.

Opening the event, Abdulhakim Elwaer, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa, emphasized the vital role of family farmers in building sustainable agrifood systems. “Family farming is not just about food production – it is about dignity, identity and resilience,” he said. “Today’s interregional dialogue is a testament to our shared commitment to elevate the voices of family farmers and co-create policies that work for the people and the planet.”

Maximo Torero, FAO’s Chief Economist and Regional Representative a.i for Latin America and the Caribbean highlighted the importance of the activity and the role of the Regional Technical Platform in connecting solutions for the sector. “The Family Farming Platform is part of a broader strategic vision to reinforce regional collaboration and knowledge exchange and offer a space to share innovations and co-design investment strategy for the sector”

Over the course of two days, government officials, farmer organizations, researchers, youth leaders, and development partners engaged in dynamic discussions across five thematic areas: digital technologies and inclusive business models, market access, agroecological and climate-resilient practices, access to credit and financial services, and secure access to land and natural resources.

Ambassador Ada Francisca de Asís Hernández Rivera, Permanent representative of the Dominican Republic to Rome-based UN agencies and Chairperson of the International Steering Committee of the UN Decade of Family farming emphasized the importance of bringing innovation to the center of the agenda: " We need to do things differently and act holistically to leverage family farmers' potential as agents of change." 

Participants presented concrete case studies and success stories, explored regional progress in implementing the United Nations Decade of Family Farming (UNDFF) Action Plan, and reflected on how to scale up effective approaches to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Dialogue concluded with a forward-looking session on regional contributions to the upcoming Global Solutions Forum on Family Farming and Rural Transformation, with stakeholders emphasizing the importance of interregional cooperation, knowledge exchange, and locally led solutions.

The outcomes of this Dialogue will feed directly into global discussions and in the implementation of the United Nations Decade on Family Farming, by identifying priorities on how to empower family farmers as key actors in building resilient agrifood systems and eradicating rural poverty.