8 October 2024. Michael Guerin, AgForce CEO.
AgForce’s recent discussions at the WTO Public Forum in Geneva highlighted an undeniable truth: that primary producers must be central to addressing the intertwined challenges of climate change, food security, and sustainability, to achieve any meaningful progress.
Yet, as we told the World Farmers Organisation, their potential contributions are often under-appreciated, overshadowed by high-level policy debates, or at worst ignored altogether, meaning the on-the-ground realities of farming and land management fail to be recognised.
As the global agricultural landscape evolves, producers must no longer be seen as mere participants in the sustainability conversation, but as the crucial leaders they are.
Agricultural producers have the knowledge and expertise, from direct engagement with the ecosystems that surround them, that position them as powerful drivers of environmental solutions.
They have the capacity to transform not only their practices, but also the way we think about the relationship between food production and environmental stewardship.
My trip to Geneva served as a valuable platform to spread the word around the globe about AgCarE.org.AU’s innovative approach to sustainable farming practices.
AgCarE provides a practical, verifiable measure of the condition of natural capital assets and resilience at farm level, allowing producers to more easily engage with carbon, biodiversity, and environmental offset projects while aligning with international standards.
This empowerment is crucial in the transition to more sustainable and resilient agricultural systems, especially when combined with the framework’s alignment with global standards like the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB).
However, despite the great strides made, there are pressing challenges ahead. The WTO forum underscored how agricultural producers are at risk of being marginalised in critical global discussions.
The visibility of agriculture in conversations about trade and sustainability is still limited, as evidenced by the minimal attention given to key agricultural organisations like the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization at the WTO event. In addition, the looming release of Lancet 2.0 is expected to cast a negative spotlight on agriculture, particularly livestock production, further highlighting the vulnerability of producers in international policy dialogues.
Yet, these challenges also present an opportunity. The Australian Agricultural Sustainability Framework (AASF), developed by the National Farmers Federation, offers a powerful platform for telling the story of how producers are part of the climate solution.
By aligning with international standards and proactively engaging in global discussions, Australian and Oceania-based producers can play a pivotal role in shaping the future of sustainable agriculture. The need to engage strongly across upcoming United Nations COP events on biodiversity, climate, and water is paramount, as these will directly impact the future of agricultural practices globally.
What became clear to me in Geneva is that the future of agriculture lies in proactive involvement, standards-based frameworks, and international collaboration.
AgCarE, with its focus on providing clarity and confidence at the property level, is uniquely positioned to lead the charge in this transition. By continuing to work within frameworks like the ISSB and the Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), producers can not only align with the global sustainability agenda but also ensure that their contributions to decarbonisation and nature repair are recognised and valued.
The trip emphasised to me that producers are not just stakeholders in the climate and environmental debate— but that they should be recognised as `solution architects'.
To harness this potential, we must elevate the role of agricultural producers in policy conversations and ensure their voices are heard. As the world grapples with climate change and sustainability, it is the producers who manage the land, steward resources, and grow our food who hold the key to a sustainable future.
It is time for the world to recognise their leadership and for producers to step into this vital role with confidence and purpose.