Day eight: Final declaration
27 February 2007

The final declaration that we've been working towards has been agreed.

Our Malian hosts sum up the feelings of Nyeleni - expressing how proud they are to get such diverse delegates from different sectors and parts of the world to meet in Africa.

Africa can feed itself despite the forces of economic globalisation such as unfair trade agreements.

Local women preparing food

Protecting Africa

Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) are seen as the greatest threat to Africa over the coming years.

There is also a unified call for the WTO to be taken out of agriculture.

African seeds must be protected against transnational companies trying to control and patent them through GMOs.

Wrapping up

Everyone cheered as the declaration was finalised.

We now have a truly global call for food sovereignty that represents millions of producers - showing what we need to fight against and what we are fighting for.

It feels great to have seen this evolve over these intense days and I feel confident that this movement is going to grow stronger and stronger over the coming years.

An amazing experience

The greatest lesson that I've learned is the importance of supporting and working alongside these brave and steadfast communities that are campaigning at the sharp end of our policies.

Campaigners in the UK should be listening carefully to what these progressive organisations are calling for and should be sensitive to their demands.

We need to be a part of this rich and dynamic, solutions-based work on food sovereignty.

In the words of Via Campesina: