Family farming is the key to making systems of food production and consumption more « inclusive, resilient and efficient, » Pope Francis said.
« Family farmers are to be commended for the supportive way in which they work, as well as the for the respectful and gentle way in which they cultivate the land, » the pope wrote in a March 19 message to a meeting of the World Rural Forum, a global network of partners that promotes family farming and sustainable rural development.
The three-day conference in northern Spain was titled « Family Farming: Sustainability of Our Planet. »
Despite their « considerable contribution to global food production, » Francis wrote, family farmers « continue to be hit by poverty and a lack of opportunity. »
Recalling the « human, spiritual and social » needs of family farmers, Francis wrote that family businesses are more than a space for producing goods; they are « the place where people belong, the place where they feel understood and valued for their dignity and not only for what they produce or for the results they achieve. »
In such a family dynamic lies « the importance of strengthening the bonds that join its members, of respecting their religious traditions, cultural wealth and agricultural practices, » he wrote.
Francis also highlighted the role of women in farming.
« Rural women represent a sure compass for their families, a firm foothold for the progress of the economy, » he wrote, « especially in developing countries where they are not only beneficiaries but real drivers of the progress of the societies in which they live. »
Young people, he wrote, also play a key role in the future of agriculture.
« The real revolution in the future of food begins with training and empowering the new generations, » he wrote. Citing his 2021 address to the secretary-general of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, Francis wrote that young people bring « innovative solutions to address old problems » and have the courage not to be limited by « shortsighted thinking that resists change. »
The pope prayed that the conference may be a step toward eradicating world hunger and caring better for the planet.