Nairobi, Kenya, 8 October 2026 – The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT (Alliance) and the World Farmers Markets Coalition (WFMC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance sustainable, inclusive and resilient local food systems. The agreement was signed during the WorldFMC Fourth General Assembly by Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg, Managing Director, Africa, for the Alliance, and Richard McCarthy, President for WFMC.

The partnership brings together the Alliance’s research on agricultural biodiversity and food systems transformation with WFMC’s global network promoting farmers markets and short supply chains. It puts particular emphasis on protecting agrobiodiversity, supporting family farming and agroecological practices, and ensuring equitable access to healthy, locally produced food.

A platform for collaboration

The MoU, established for an initial period of three years, sets out cooperation in the following areas:

• Sustainable local food systems: strengthening farmers markets, short food supply chains and local food networks.
• Agrobiodiversity and genetic resources: promoting the conservation and sustainable use of traditional crops, local varieties and indigenous knowledge.
• Capacity development and technical assistance: joint training programmes, workshops, exchanges and technical support for stakeholders in sustainable food systems and market governance.
• Research, data and knowledge sharing: joint studies, data collection, policy analysis and dissemination of best practices.
• International cooperation and joint projects: developing joint initiatives and funding opportunities with multilateral organisations, governments, research institutes and civil society.
• Advocacy, policy dialogue and awareness-raising: supporting policies for sustainable agriculture, nutrition and equitable food systems, and organising joint events and communication campaigns.

Specific joint activities will be defined case by case through dedicated agreements between the two organisations.

“Farmers markets connect producers, consumers and biodiversity in a very direct way. This partnership with WFMC allows us to bring science and evidence into local food systems and to support communities in building more resilient and diverse food systems,” said Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg, Managing Director for Africa, at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT.

 “Local food systems are increasingly recognised as an essential part of the response to some of the major challenges facing our food systems. Farmers markets give these systems a tangible presence in communities, creating opportunities for family farmers while keeping value, knowledge and food closer to where people live. This agreement with Alliance is an opportunity to strengthen that role through international cooperation, research and shared experience.” said Richard McCarthy, President of the World Farmers Markets Coalition.

The MoU also reflects the shared commitment of the two Rome-based organisations to promote food security, nutrition and rural development through cooperation between farmers, institutions, civil society and local communities.

About the Alliance

The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives. Alliance solutions address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation.

The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future. 

About the World Farmers Markets Coalition

The World Farmers Markets Coalition (WFMC) is an international non-profit association under Italian law committed to promoting sustainable local food systems by supporting and strengthening farmers markets and short supply chains around the world. Through research, capacity building, international cooperation and policy engagement, WFMC promotes biodiversity, family farming, agroecological practices and food sovereignty, placing farmers, consumers and communities at the centre of the food value chain. 

Today, the WorldFMC network speaks for more than 28,000 markets in over 80 countries, with more than 100 member associations representing 330,000 farming families and over 400 million consumers worldwide.