Deep Roots

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Taking the lead in promoting family farming:

The Global Forum and Expo on Family

Farming in Budapest

Zoltán Kálmán, Head of Department; Bálint Illés, Head of Unit; and Ágnes Dús,

FAO Coordinator from the Ministry of Agriculture of Hungary on behalf of

the Organizing Committee of the Global Forum and Expo on Family Farming

articipants from 104 countries, representing a wide

range of stakeholders, gathered in Budapest on 4-6

March 2014 to participate in the Global Forum

and Expo on Family Farming (GFEFF). The event was

organized by the Ministry of Agriculture of Hungary in

cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization

of the United Nations (FAO) as a key event of the United

Nations International Year of Family Farming (IYFF). The

outcomes of the event were presented in the Conference

Summary Conclusions, which served as an important input

for further events and discussions throughout the year.

The event was opened by Sándor Fazekas, Minister of

Agriculture of Hungary, and José Graziano da Silva, Director-

General of FAO – the two initiators of the GFEFF. The

successful realization of this joint initiative is a good example

to the excellent cooperation between FAO and Hungary.

Hungary has traditionally good relations with FAO. Since

it became a donor country in 2004 – when it joined the

European Union – Hungary has been providing financial and

technical support to FAO (including the financing of develop-

ment projects, hosting FAO offices in Budapest, and offering

a scholarship programme for students from least developed

countries) to contribute to the achievement of its goal in

improving global food security.

In his opening speech, the Hungarian Minister of Agriculture

referred to family farming as a successful model. This is the

best way to use natural resources sustainably, to preserve

traditional agricultural products and to produce healthy and

high-quality food. Creating an enabling environment for

family farmers is essential for the maintenance and devel-

opment of family farms, which may include access to land

and other natural resources, improving rural infrastructure,

establishing favourable subsidy programmes, and developing

agricultural extension services and local farmers’ markets.

The Director-General of FAO began by sharing a message

from Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations,

addressed to the participants of the conference. The Secretary-

Minister Sándor Fazekas speaking at GFEFF

Image: Csaba Pelsöczy, Ministry of Agriculture of Hungary

Minister Sándor Fazekas and FAO Director-General José Graziano

da Silva at the conference

Image: Csaba Pelsöczy, Ministry of Agriculture of Hungary

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