Annual international conferences: the unmissable meeting place for agricultural issues around the world
Every year, the Foundation organizes a major international conference in Paris. The goal of this event is to help inform decision-makers about the paths to take for sustainable agricultural development, balancing economic, social, and environmental issues. During these conferences, stakeholders from both the Global South and the Global North are given the floor. Some are present in person, while others participate via videoconference. Everything is organized to allow for the sharing of perspectives to inform the debates.
Transforming agriculture, measuring impact to invest better – January 28, 2025
View the FARM 2025 Conference program
A day of discussion on impact measurement in the service of global agriculture
Continuing the discussions initiated in 2024 on financing the transformation of agriculture, Pascal Lheureux, President of FARM, stressed the importance of an open and constructive dialogue.
"In a world where respect for others and democratic debate often give way to intolerance, it is important to create or preserve places for exchange in a peaceful atmosphere," he said, recalling that "FARM is one of these places of exchange open to serving the general interest."
He stressed that impact measurement must be beneficial for all, "especially for producers who often remain the vulnerable link in the supply chain," and that decision-makers' strategies must be well understood and adapted to the realities on the ground.
The producers, financiers and decision-makers present throughout the day powerfully illustrated these issues.
Testimonies from producers in the South highlighted the challenges they face, including the need for fair remuneration and economic viability of their farms in order to be able to invest sustainably and have a positive social and environmental impact.
After the conference was opened by French Minister of Agriculture Annie Genevard, Arianna Legovini, Director of the World Bank's Impact Evaluation Department, compared impact measurement to "a GPS for governments," enabling them to steer public policies toward concrete results. Watch all the participants' presentations on video and in our publications.
Koulibi Fidèle Zongo: an engaging and inspiring researcher rewarded
Highlight of the day, the first edition of the FARM 2025 Award was awarded to Koulibi Fidèle Zongo, Doctor of Agro-pedology and Teacher-Researcher in Burkina Faso. His project aims to improve soil fertility through a participatory approach involving 42 women compost producers in the North of Burkina Faso (discover the 2025 winner)
"I chose this theme in order to work towards finding a sustainable food system for rural populations," explained the researcher.
Endowed with €5,000, this prize will allow him to expand his initiatives with the "Nabonswede" association, thus contributing to more sustainable agriculture adapted to climate challenges. This recognition underlines FARM's commitment to promoting social engagement that combines science and action on the ground.
A collective reflection that continues and a new theme in 2026
The Foundation is committed to continuing this collective reflection in the coming months through the publication of summaries and recommendations. A new theme will be addressed in 2026; subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed.
The FARM Foundation would like to warmly thank the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and APEXAGRI for their support in organizing this conference.
Together, let’s continue to work towards more sustainable and resilient agriculture!
2024 Edition: Transforming Agriculture: The Financing Challenge – January 29, 2024
View the FARM 2024 Conference program
An underfunded agricultural sector
A conference introduced by Pascal Lheureux, President of the FARM Foundation, who drew the attention of participants to the inadequate financing conditions that could compromise productivity and sustainability ambitions: "The requirement is shared by all economic actors: to produce more efficiently while preserving the environment."
Marc Fesneau, Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, recalled that: "funding can constitute a major lever to support and accelerate agricultural transitions" depending on how it is granted.
The observation shared by the speakers is alarming: despite the significant weight of agriculture in the African economy (33% of GDP) and its major role in employment (60% of the active population), it remains underfunded, with only 3% of credits to the economy allocated to this sector.
Keynote speaker for 2024, Jyotsna Puri, Vice-President of IFAD, emphasized that "increasing public financing for agriculture and sustainable food systems is necessary but insufficient to bridge this ever-widening gap." She advocated for a mix of public and private, concessional and non-concessional resources.
Find all the participants' presentations on video and in our publications.
Read the FARM 2024 Conference summaries
Towards suitable financing mechanisms
The conference explored avenues for expanding agricultural credit provision, both on the public and private levels. The example of ACBA Bank in Armenia illustrated the successful transformation of a microfinance institution into a mutual bank, enabling better risk management and increased support for small agricultural businesses.
On the private sector side, Walmart's Tierra Fertil program, primarily deployed in Latin America, was presented as a concrete case of financing and technical assistance for producers.
Speakers stressed the importance of adapting financing mechanisms to the realities on the ground, with an emphasis on risk management and the development of sustainable business relationships.
Concrete courses of action towards impact measurement in 2025
The conference identified four essential conditions for deploying transformative financing: developing a label to assess the agroecological nature of financing, stimulating demand for transition-oriented financing, using agroecology to better manage risks, and strengthening the role of public policies.
Stéphane Bijoux, Member of the European Parliament, stressed the importance of supporting southern countries in the face of new European regulations so that they do not burden the most vulnerable producers.
FARM has committed to continuing a collective reflection in the coming months, particularly on measuring the impact of funding, a theme that was at the heart of the 2025 conference.
The FARM Foundation thanks the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, and APEXAGRI for their support in organizing this conference.
2023 Edition: Agriculture(s): Time for Mobilization – January 17, 2023
View the FARM 2023 Conference program
Agriculture in 2030: challenges and opportunities
The topic, both broad and concrete, addressed the necessary transformations in agriculture and food systems to meet global challenges by 2030.
Between food security, environmental sustainability, adaptation to climate change and economic issues, this theme invites us to fundamentally rethink agricultural models to better meet the growing needs of the population while preserving natural resources.
Question, intensify, undertake, mobilize
The conference explored through 4 round tables; Question, intensify, undertake, mobilize, a projection of food systems to 2030 in order to give new impetus to agriculture and rural areas.
Mobilizing funding and public policies
The last sequence addressed the issue of agricultural financing, with the presentation of the Observatory of public support for agriculture of the FARM Foundation.
A day of discussions concluded with a plea from students from the Sorbonne Institute of Development Studies (Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne) and testimonies from Laure Tall of the Initiative Prospective Agricole et Rural (IPAR, Senegal) and Catherine Migault, director of the FARM Foundation.
This conference laid the foundations for a reflection that continued during the 2024 edition. on financing the transformation of agriculture.
The FARM Foundation thanks the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, APEXAGRI and EURACTIV for their support in organizing this conference.
