(Rome, 4 October 2013). During a meeting between La Via Campesina and FAO’s Director general Jose Graziano da Silva an agreement of cooperation was formalized which acknowledged the essential role played by small holder food producers. Their role was recognised as most important in the eradication of world hunger. The cooperation will focus on various key areas: strengthening peasant based agro-ecological food production, protecting small holders rights to access land and water, as well as improving farmers rights over seeds in accordance with international and national seed laws. This cooperation’s framework will lay special emphasis on the key role played by youth and women in food production as well as the need to improve their access to land and other productive resources.