2022 New global collaboration platform for farm policy and innovation launched

Forum announcement

Wednesday, Oct 05, 2022

OAK BROOK, Ill. (October 5, 2022) – Four leading independent agricultural organizations from Australia, Canada, the European Union, and United States have formed a collaborative initiative known as the Global Forum on Farm Policy and Innovation (GFFPI) to increase the sustainability of agriculture across the world.

The purpose of the collaboration is to use existing evidence and emerging research to inform dialogue that can unlock new thinking and ideas. In doing so, the organizations believe that they can increase knowledge and understanding of key gaps and opportunities to deliver better outcomes for more sustainable agriculture around the world.

The four organizations have been working together informally for the past year to better understand key issues and seek areas of alignment for collaboration. Leaders from the four organizations recently convened in Oak Brook, Illinois, at Farm Foundation’s offices for the purpose of taking this further step in formalizing the collaboration.

In addition to aligning on the purpose statement, GFFPI envisions a set of shared activities for the coming year. These include collaborating on shared public dialogue on trade and sustainability in 2022-2023. The organizations will look for ways to engage additional global voices and to connect their individual organizational activities associated with one of the key global drivers of sustainable agriculture.

Going forward, the partners will also seek to work with similar like-minded organizations around the world.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Farm Foundation, Australian Farm Institute, Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute, and Forum for the Future of Agriculture said: “We know that key differences persist in approaches to sustainability across countries and that this type of collaborative initiative can help increase the understanding of gaps and opportunities. We value collaborating with these independent organizations to help lead such important debates to enable solutions.” Shari Rogge-Fidler, CEO of Farm Foundation.

“We need to build a food and agriculture system that is more resilient and sustainable and which realizes its potential as a climate solution. The Forum has long recognized that this cannot be done in isolation and today’s announcement is fully aligned with its objective of working with like-minded organizations around the world. From the pressure on environmental, as well as food, security and the climate crisis, the urgency to bring forward new thinking, ideas, and solutions has never been greater. This initiative will enable us to contribute with greater impact to that goal.” Janez Potočnik, Chairman, Forum for the Future of Agriculture.

“Regardless of their size, structure or location, Australian farmers now work in an interdependent, world-wide system. Understanding global policy trends and how they influence our trading and operating environments has never been more important. The GFFPI will further enhance the AFI’s ability to bring that global lens into our policy work, and provides a unique forum through which our organizations can pursue policy and innovation which helps build sustainable farm businesses around the world.” Richard Heath, Executive Director, Australian Farm Institute.

“Around the world agriculture must play a significant role in meeting critical economic, environmental, and food security goals. These are global challenges that require local solutions. While the local solutions will be different, there will be common threads, including the need for profitability, productivity, and growth. This is a significant opportunity to work together to advance policies that position agriculture as a solution-provider for these critical challenges.” Tyler McCann, Managing Director, Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute.

About the Global Forum for Farm Policy and Innovation
Global Forum for Farm Policy and Innovation leverages evidence and dialogue leading to increased understanding, substantive action, and enhanced outcomes for more sustainable agriculture around the world.

The Australian Farm Institute is an independent institute leading the farm policy discussions to ensure a viable future for the Australian agriculture community, delivers timely analysis and insights, and promotes the evidence-based policy solutions that maximize the economic and social wellbeing of farmers.

Canadian Agri-food Policy Institute is an independent, non-partisan not for profit organization for agri-food leaders to come together, share insights, and advance ideas on emerging issues facing this important sector.

Farm Foundation in the United States is an independent, non-partisan 501c3 accelerator of practical solutions for agriculture, combining the trust and reliability of a “think tank” with the impact and urgency of a “do tank.”

Forum for the Future of Agriculture in Europe is an independent, open, and inclusive convener with influence to generate the ideas, thinking, and solutions which help build a more resilient food and agriculture system.

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