#IGrowYourFood 2025: Farmer-Led Futures: Building Sustainable Organic Enterprises from the Ground Up
On the 7th year of #IGrowYourFood, we will be shedding light on farmers’ initiatives and how they are creating ways to build self-sufficient and resilient enterprises.
Hosted by IFOAM – Organics International in partnership with the Inter-Continental Network of Organic Farmers Organisations (INOFO), #IGrowYourFood Global Action Day has provided a platform and safe space for farmers to talk about their experiences and challenges.
This time around, #IGrowYourFood will focus on Farmer-Led Futures: Building Sustainable Organic Enterprises from the Ground Up through a webinar on 25 September at 2 p.m. CEST via Zoom.
The webinar will tackle the financial sustainability of Organic Farmer Organizations (OFOs) and Organic Family Farmers, highlighting both challenges and innovative solutions that shape the future of farmer-led enterprises.
One-third of the world’s food are produced by small-scale family farmers. They are also crucial in combatting the climate crisis. Yet these mighty producers receive only 0.3% of international climate finance, and many funding programs fail to provide practical and accessible financial solutions that meet local needs.
While external investments present challenges, farmers worldwide are creating their own adaptable financial models that ensure economic resilience, community-driven sustainability and self-sufficiency. Resilient multi-revenue concepts are developed and implemented by farmers to maintain sustainable stewardship not only for nature but also for the communities they are part of. Often female farmers who are strongly connected to the overall wellbeing of their community develop extraordinary ideas to maintain production and create resilient businesses. Thales Mendonça, INOFO Global Relationship Manager, will lead the discussion.
Some of the most impactful solutions include:
- Cooperative financing models that pool resources among farmers for collective stability.
- Local value chain development that ensures farmer-led control over pricing, production, and distribution.
- Innovative partnerships between farmers and consumer communities.
- Revenue beyond agriculture commodities like education and training, and eco-agritourism.
- Financial illiteracy of and violence against female farmers
Speakers include:
- Floris Niu, Oceania Pasifika
- Sylvia Kuria, Sylvia’s Basket
- Devesh Patel, One Gujarat Farm Producers Co-operative Society
- Pauline Buffle, Foundation for Farmers Organisations and Restorative Action
IFOAM – Organics International and INOFO aim to highlight these farmer-driven financial concepts as inspiration, blueprints, and real-world solutions that can be tailored to meet regional and local needs worldwide.
Please note that the views and opinions expressed by the speakers do not necessarily reflect the stand of IFOAM – Organics International.