International Year of Family Farming
Counting our many blessings during Thanksgiving dinner, our thoughts went out to people around the world not surrounded by such abundance. Each year we become more convinced than ever that the agricultural model supported by Full Belly Farm’s CSA members and extended community is very relevant to addressing the challenge of global hunger
An article in the Huffington Post (Danielle Nierenberg, et al, 11/27/13) pointed to family farmers all around the world as a source of needed innovation: “…through local knowledge and sustainable, innovative farming methods, family farmers can improve yields and create a more nutrient-dense and diverse food system. They’re even key players in job creation and healthy economies, supplying jobs to millions and boosting local markets.”
A 2002 World Bank report examining 61 countries determined that small-scale farms have the best potential for alleviating global hunger. While big harvests in the U.S. play a role around the world, the people who are actually out in the field thinking and working on global hunger say that there are many other steps that we need to take that are much more important than growing more U.S. corn and soybeans.
The International Year of Family Farming 2014 is an initiative promoted by the World Rural Forum that aims to be a “tool to stimulate active policies for sustainable development of agricultural systems-based farmer families, communal units, indigenous groups, cooperatives and fishing families.”
We are thankful for each and every one of our CSA members and wish you a wonderful Holiday Season. We look forward to spending next year, the International Year of Family Farming, in your company.
