RCS and Inclusive Innovation Approaches for Family Farming

FAO hosts technical seminar on RCS and inclusive innovation approaches for family farming

 

In a bid to propel the role of communication for family farming into the spotlight, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) hosted the technical seminar Rural Communication Services (RCS) and Inclusive Innovation Approaches for Family Farming on 29 April 2024 at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy. This seminar comes as part of the ongoing implementation of the United Nations Decade of Family Farming 2019-28 (UNDFF), a global initiative aimed at unleashing the potential of family farmers to drive transformative change within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

About 100 attendees from all over the world participated in the event, including representatives of academia, rural institutions, farmers organizations and communication practitioners. Central to the discussions was the concept of Rural Communication Services (RCS), an integrated and participatory approach encompassing various communication processes, media applications and institutional arrangements tailored to meet the needs of family farmers. Over the past five years, efforts have been made to promote RCS in connection to family farming policies and programmes, spearheaded by FAO supported regional Communication for Development (ComDev) initiatives – ComDev Asia, YenKasa Africa and Onda Rural – jointly with the Collaborative Change Communication initiative (CCComDev) at the global level.

The technical seminar shared insights from these initiatives and explored innovative solutions to more inclusive and responsive communication and innovation services in rural areas. Sessions delved into RCS trends, perspectives and inclusive innovation efforts, with the aim to foster knowledge-sharing and collaboration among initiatives committed to drive positive change in family farming.

The event presented also the opportunity to launch six new FAO publications, mainly on the topic of Rural Communication Services, but also a practitioner’s guide on participatory video. For more details on the publications and their download, please refer to the flyer here.

As the UNDFF reaches its midway point, this seminar served as a crucial juncture to take stock of progress, identify challenges, and chart a course for the future of RCS and other inclusive innovation for family farming. Family farming plays an indispensable role in achieving global food security and sustainable development, and initiatives such as this technical seminar are essential in empowering family farmers and advancing agrifood systems worldwide.

See the programme of the event here. 

Watch the seminar webcast recordings using the following links:

You can find the list of presentations shared during the event here.

Part 1: Rural Communication Services (RCS)

Part 2: Inclusive Innovation Approaches for family farming