A group of five pensioners gathered in London on 1st July to deliver the World Bank an 80th birthday card and demand that the Bank does better.
The group were all born in the same year the World Bank was established and so are also celebrating their 80th birthdays this year. They delivered the birthday card, which has been signed by thousands of CAFOD campaigners.
The event has been arranged by the international agency CAFOD, as part of a campaign urging the World Bank to stop restricting small-scale farmers around the world from using whatever seeds they choose to. Currently, World Bank policies limit what seeds farmers can use, negatively impacting small-scale farmers around the world, and particularly those in poorer countries.
CAFOD is urgently calling on the World Bank to:
- Put an end to conditions on its loans that limit farmers’ choices over which seeds they can access.
- Support farmers’ rights to use, save and exchange their own varieties of seeds – in alignment with UN human rights standards.
- Support resilient food systems: The World Bank’s current approach prioritises large-scale agribusiness, which undermines smallholder farmers’ ability to support food security and provide nutritious diets.
Dr Ruth Segal, Policy Lead for Food Systems at CAFOD, said: “The World Bank must recognise the vital role of seed diversity in global food security, as its support for restrictive seed laws undermines the resilience of food systems and the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers.
“The World Bank, established 80 years ago to reduce poverty and support development, is not fulfilling its mission. Its policies on seeds and smallholder farmers restrict farmers’ rights, hindering sustainable livelihoods. After 80 years, the Bank now needs to truly serve its purpose.”
Elizabeth Devine, one of the 80-year-olds delivering the card, told the Universe: “I’m supporting CAFOD’s campaign because protecting small-scale farmers’ rights is key to tackling poverty. It’s not right that hardworking farmers are having unnecessary and unfair conditions imposed on them.
“It’s especially wrong as the World Bank was set up to help take people out of poverty and support their development. I want to see the World Bank do better.”
CAFOD’s report, Sowing the Seeds of Poverty (2023), provides the details of the key recommendations to the World Bank. More information about these and the “Fix the Food Systems” campaign can be found by visiting www.cafod.org.uk/food