World Farmers' Programme to be hosted in Europe for 2017‏

Jaabeurs Expo Centre in the Netherlands
Jaabeurs Expo Centre in the Netherlands

The World Farmers’ Programme will be hosted at the Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture when it holds its first European edition from 9 to 10 May 2017 at the Jaabeurs Expo Centre in the Netherlands.

The programme is designed to provide farmers and cooperatives from emerging markets with access to the expertise and technology needed to improve agricultural productivity, reduce post-harvest losses and boost investment.

Michael Hailu, CTA’s Director said, “this programme will promote interaction and learning between farmers of the developed and developing world."

"The World Farmers’ Programme will provide a unique opportunity for young and entrepreneurial food growers in emerging markets to discover innovations and investment opportunities that have the potential to transform farming systems in their home countries.

"But crucially it will also allow them to network with their peers from across Europe to fully understand what can be achieved by using new technologies and innovations.”

Secretary General of the WFO, Marco Marzano de Marinis, added, “The World Farmers’ Organisation is pleased to be supporting the World Farmers’ Programme

"Providing farmers from developing countries with opportunities to learn about new and innovative systems aimed at boosting the economic environment and livelihood of producers, their families and rural communities is essential."

"Furthermore, enabling farmers from different countries and backgrounds to network and share knowledge and experiences will be invaluable.”

Eligible farmers will be drawn from the WFO members which represents over 1.5 billion farmers globally. PricewaterhouseCoopers has provided advice on the management of the fund, programme monitoring and reporting.

LTO Nederlande - the Dutch Federation of Agriculture and Horticulture - will facilitate a tour programme to local farms and will be inviting young Dutch farmers to attend and exchange experiences with international visitors of the programme.

Combating worldwide hunger

Despite significant growth in food production over the past 50 years, 793 million people in the world still suffer from hunger and even more are malnourished.

“By 2050, a population of more than nine billion together with growing urbanisation and a demand for more sophisticated diets from emerging markets will see food growers needing to produce 70% more food."

"European technology companies are developing innovations that are delivering some of the most intensive, sustainable and efficient farms in the world, and we look forward to showcasing these innovations to farmers from emerging markets at GFIA in Utrecht.” Says GFIA Event Director, Nicola Davison.

One company with grand plans to showcase innovation in Utrecht is Evergreen Farm Oy. Inventors of a controlled, self-contained direct feed vertical hydroponics (DFVH™) greenhouse, Evergreen Farm Oy will be building and demonstrating a working vertical farm at GFIA Europe.

Using a combination of hydroponics, aeroponics, and drip irrigation methods, early tests indicate that this system will produce 3,000% more products than conventional hydroponics businesses, and 20,800% more products than traditional soil grown businesses in a 1000 m2 space.