FAO Economic and Social Development Department

Innovation in family farming

The State of

Food andAgriculture 20

14FAO Economic and Social Development Department

Kostas StamoulisDirectorFAO Agricultural Development Economics Division

More than 570 million farms in the world

Number of farms by regionWorld total: 570 million

#sofa2014

Family farms: Why we care ??

More than 90 percent of farms in the world are family farms (500 million out of 570 million).

Family farms operate about 75 percent of farm land

They produce about 80 percent of food. Family farms are diverse in size and other traits.

Most of the world’s farms are small…

Share of farms, by land size class

72% <1 ha

12% 1–2 ha

10% 2–5 ha

3% 5–10 ha

1% 10–20 ha

2% >20 ha #sofa2014

… but most of the world’s farmland is on large farmsDistribution of farms and farmland worldwide

#sofa2014

Feed the world Manage agricultural resources sustainably Raise rural incomes But they face many challenges …

Family farms are therefore key to:

Innovation means doing things better. Agricultural innovation systems include all

institutions and individuals that enable farmers to do things better.

Overarching components: – enabling environment, including access to

markets– agricultural R&D for family farms– inclusive agricultural advisory services

Meeting these challenges requires INNOVATION

Large family farms – similar to large business ventures

Small or medium-sized farms that:– are already commercial (generating

a surplus for the market)– have potential to become commercial

Subsistence smallholders with little or no potential for commercial production

Different family farms need different things from an agricultural innovation system

#sofa2014

Countries need to invest more in agricultural R&D and advisory services.

Inclusive and participatory research and advisory services can help meet the needs of smaller family farms.

Public and private sectors have complementary roles to play.

Agricultural producers’ groups can help ensure that the voices of family farmersare heard.

Agricultural R&D and advisory services

Family farms are key to global food security.

Family farms are very diverse. We need diverse policies that are

tailored to their needs. Through innovation family farms can:

– feed the world, – reduce poverty – protect natural resources

To conclude

FAO Economic and Social Development Department

#sofa2014

For more information …

The State of Food and Agriculture 2014

Innovation in family farming

FAO‘s major annual flagship publication

Available in English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic and Chinese

www.fao.org/publications/sofa