World Vision has pushed for food and agriculture to be a focal issue of CHOGM and we are making four recommendations to the G20 to facilitate improved food security and nutrition for the world’s poor:

1. Work with governments, the UN, other transnational bodies, civil society and the private sector to develop a global strategy and mechanisms that ensure early and effective response to prevent acute food insecurity and malnutrition.
2. Ensure that agriculture and food security policies and programs include improved nutrition outcomes for women and children as a key objective.
3. Implement systems and mechanisms that reduce extreme and volatile food prices by increasing market transparency and reducing the impact of biofuels on food prices.
4. Provide increased and better coordinated support for small scale farmers.

Recommendation four above has been echoed by many food security, agriculture and nutrition experts – but why is small scale farming so important and what sort of support is required? The purpose of this report is to answer that question.