FAO is meeting in Quebec City

The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization is meeting in Quebec City for a “dialogue on family farming in North America.”

It's a fitting venue since FAO was founded at Quebec City.

Among the participants is Danielle Nierenberg of The Food Think Tank, an internet newsletter from New York.

Nierenberg says the Food Think Tank is now collaborating with the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR) which “brings together all those working to strengthen and transform agricultural research for development around the world.

“During 2014 and the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF), GFAR is working with Food Tank to showcase and raise awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by smallholders and help identify efficient ways to support family farmers, especially women farmers.

“Research from the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization shows that if women had the same access to resources as male farmers, they could lift 100 to 150 million people out of hunger,” Nierenberg writes.

“For example, when women farmers have secure land rights, family nutrition improves, women become less vulnerable to contracting HIV/AIDS, they may be less likely to be victims of domestic violence, children, especially girls, are more likely to receive an education and stay in school longer and women’s participation in household decision-making increases.