Objectives of the Ongoing SARD Multistakeholder Dialogue
- Elevating land, agriculture and food security on the agenda of the WSSD.
- Moving from talk to action in implementing the goals of SARD.
- Identifying commitment areas for major groups and governments in SARD.
Where did SARD come from?
“Promoting Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development” is the title of Chapter 14 of Agenda 21 adopted in 1992. To this day the framework for SARD agreed to in 1992 by governments in Agenda 21 is the most comprehensive government decision on the interlinked challenges of land management to reverse soil degradation, alleviate poverty and improve food security and sustainable agricultural production. With related chapters of Agenda 21, the SARD framework addresses the policies, programs and partnerships required to advance sustainable agriculture and rural development at national, regional and international levels. These partnerships include the Major Groups identified in Agenda 21 (Farmers, Indigenous Peoples, Workers & Trade Unions, Business & Industry, Non-governmental Organizations, Women, Local Authorities, Youth and Scientists) without whose participation the goals of SARD cannot be achieved.
What is the history of the land and SARD debate since the Rio Earth Summit?
During subsequent annual meetings since 1993 of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), progress towards the goals of SARD have been debated by governments and other stakeholders, especially at Rio+5, in the 5th Session of the CSD in 1997 and especially in the focus on Land and Agriculture in the 8th Session of the CSD in 2000. At that time, a Multistakeholder Dialogue between the Major Groups listed below and Governments produced a rich debate from the often different perspectives of farmers, Indigenous Peoples, NGOs, Workers and Trade Unions and Business and Industry. (
http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd8/csd8_2000.htm)