World Farmers Markets Coalition and Campagna Amica at IFSA 2025: Promoting Farmers’ Markets, Short Supply Chains, and Food Security in the Heart of the Mediterranean
From July 10 to 11, 2025, Fondazione Campagna Amica and the World Farmers Markets Coalition (WFMC) took part in the IFSA – International Food Show Africa, one of the most important agro-food trade fairs on the African continent. Now in its third edition and sponsored by the Tunisian Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Trade and Export Development, the event was held at the Kram Exhibition Center in Tunis.
This participation is part of an ongoing international cooperation initiative promoted by Campagna Amica and WFMC, aiming to build solid alliances in the Mediterranean and across Africa, starting from multifunctional agriculture to develop key themes such as food sovereignty, food security, traceability, and the promotion of local gastronomic identities.
In today’s international context, where access to food, ecological transition, and biodiversity protection are urgent challenges, farmers’ markets stand out as a key tool to develop replicable and virtuous local food models. They address community needs, sustain the agricultural economy of farming families, help combat poverty, and strengthen the link between rural areas and cities.
Within IFSA, which hosted over 20 exhibiting countries, numerous side events, and international competitions, Campagna Amica and WFMC provided cultural, operational, and strategic contributions to support virtuous models of food production and consumption, respectful of biodiversity, the environment, and each country’s culinary traditions.
WFMC’s Active Engagement at IFSA 2025
During the fair, the World Farmers Markets Coalition:
- Welcomed visitors at its dedicated booth, presenting the organization’s mission and initiatives to promote farmers’ markets worldwide.
- Met with UTAP top management (Tunisian Union of Agriculture and Fisheries) to discuss potential collaborations and shared strategies for strengthening farmers’ markets in the Mediterranean and African regions.
- Held discussions with various manufacturers exhibiting at the fair, exploring market trends and opportunities for farmers’ market integration.
- Engaged with representatives of different embassies, laying the groundwork for future activities and international collaborations.
Food as Culture, Identity, and a Tool for Peace
Participation in IFSA 2025 reflects a broader vision, where food is not only nourishment but also culture, identity, and a tool for peace, through the sharing of best practices in direct sales management and the promotion of local and seasonal food.
Dominga Cotarella, President of Fondazione Campagna Amica, stated:
“Taking part in IFSA 2025 represents a strategic opportunity for Fondazione Campagna Amica to strengthen dialogue between Mediterranean and African agriculture. In a world facing global challenges such as the climate crisis, food security, and growing inequalities, we believe that the farmers’ market model is a concrete, replicable, and sustainable response. A model that values farmers’ work, protects local communities, and promotes fair access to healthy, traceable food. Today, more than ever, agriculture can be a tool for peace, development, and freedom.”
Carmelo Troccoli, Director General of the World Farmers Markets Coalition, added:
“We aim to foster the creation of an alliance among Global South countries based on the right to food, access to land, and the dignity of agricultural work. This is the vision that Fondazione Campagna Amica and the World Farmers Markets Coalition are strongly advancing, contributing to the development of fairer, more inclusive, and sustainable food systems.”
