A few weeks ago, at the Coldiretti Village in Bologna, we hosted a dynamic panel exploring how farmers markets can and should be recognized as key instruments in shaping local and national food policies.
The discussion brought together inspiring voices from the international food and policy community, including two special guests: Alec Ross, former advisor to U.S. President Barack Obama, author, entrepreneur, and Adjunct Professor at Bologna Business School, and Elena Alberti, international executive and CEO & CFO of Penske Automotive Italy.
Drawing on insights from the WorldFMC General Assembly and the joint WorldFMC–FAO report, the panel focused on the challenges and opportunities to strengthen the impact of farmers markets worldwide. Speakers emphasized the essential role these markets play in:
- Providing access to quality, natural, and non-ultra-processed food
- Fostering direct relationships between producers and consumers
- Revitalizing abandoned urban and peri-urban spaces
- Promoting food systems that are fair, inclusive, and rooted in local economies
Moderated by Barbara Billocci, the discussion featured:
- Richard McCarthy, President WorldFMC
- Carmelo Troccoli, Director General WorldFMC
- Raul Tiraboschi, Slow Food
- Valentina Sommacal, FAO
- Nuhad Sheikh, Lebanon Farmers Markets Coalition
Alec Ross reflected on the importance of cross-country collaboration: “Italian agriculture celebrates its small, family-run farms, where excellence is cultivated across generations. In the U.S., policies ensure that even the most vulnerable can access fresh, local food through food assistance programs. Exchange and collaboration are key to ensuring that farmers markets become a pillar of every nation’s food system.”
The panel, both in-person and streamed online, offered a unique opportunity to share experiences and ideas from around the world, strengthening the recognition of farmers markets as drivers of the transition toward sustainable food systems.
A heartfelt thank you goes to Ettore Prandini, President of Coldiretti and Tommaso Foti, Minister for European Affairs, Southern Italy, Cohesion Policy and NRRP of Italy who took part in the discussion.
Together, they showed that when farmers markets thrive, communities, biodiversity, and local economies thrive too.
At WorldFMC, the mission is simple yet bold: to ensure farmers markets are recognized as essential pillars of food systems and political agendas everywhere. Because one thing is clear: Farmers Markets Count.
