The United Nations appointed Robert Carlson (67), former president of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO), as the International Ambassador who would promote the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF). Carlson said, “I will do my best to represent family farmers and ranchers throughout the world. I think it’s very important for people to recognize the significant contributions that agriculture makes on our global economy.”
Carlson was appointed during a video conference. Participants in the ceremony included José Graziano da Silva, Director General of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); the FAO official in charge of policy suggestion; the officer of IYFF’s educational team; and David Lane, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
Carlson served as president of North Dakota Farmers Union and vice president of National Farmers Union (NFU) in the United States which consists of family farmers. He was inaugurated as president of the WFO when it was founded in 2011.
(July 20, 2014)