A series of events related to family farming will be organised in Ireland and across Europe in the next year. This follows a decision by the UN General Assembly to declare 2014 as the International Year of Family Farming
The worldwide celebration aims to stimulate active policies for sustainable development of agricultural systems-based farmer families, communal units, indigenous groups, co-operatives and fishing families.
The European Commission has already announced it will hold a conference in Brussels on November 29 in preparation for 2014 ‘Family farming: A dialogue towards more sustainable and resilient farming in Europe and the world’, which is the theme of the gathering.
The Commission said that the importance of family farming within the EU cannot be overstated. A majority of the EU’s 12 million farms are family owned, having been passed down from one generation to another.
The conference will allow participants to look at the role of family farming, key challenges and priorities for the future, as well the best means of supporting family farms.