World Farmers Markets Coalition

What World Farmers Markets Coalition does

The World Farmers Markets Coalition (WorldFMC) is a non-profit global coalition founded in July 2021 in Rome, Italy, that aggregates farmers market associations from around the world to share best practices, build capacity, and advocate for local food systems at international forums. The coalition was launched under Fondazione Campagna Amica with the support of UN Deputy General Amina Mohammed and has grown to over 90 member organizations across more than 80 countries, representing markets in Africa, Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, and the Mediterranean. Its core programs include the WorldFMC Academy (monthly digital Studios, Co-Labs, and Mini-Courses), MAMi (Mediterranean and African Markets Initiative for new market development), FMCOUNT! (a global awareness campaign), the WorldFMC Awards, and regionally focused initiatives such as the AREA Africa Programme and EU-funded Erasmus+ and CICERO projects. A six-person secretariat in Rome coordinates the network, with elected President Richard McCarthy and Director General Carmelo Troccoli providing leadership.

The coalition's business model is non-commercial and grant-funded. Revenue is sourced from institutional grants and development aid rather than product sales or membership dues priced as a service. Key funding partners include the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) for MAMi, the European Commission through Erasmus+ and Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programmes, and FAO via Letters of Agreement for market-landscape evaluation work in emerging markets. Implementation is delivered through strategic partners — notably CIHEAM Bari (which executes MAMi and AREA Africa) and Coldiretti/Campagna Amica (which provides Italian infrastructure). The go-to-market approach is community-led: the coalition grows by recruiting member associations, convening General Assemblies at FAO Headquarters, and running monthly multilingual workshops to deepen engagement. Strategic priorities going into 2026-2027 include expanding into the Andean region via the "Ande in Rete" project, launching a national Italian healthcare-food alliance across 70 hospitals, and rolling out the second phase of MAMi.

Name

World Farmers Markets Coalition

Legal name

World Farmers Markets Coalition

Website

https://worldfarmersmarketscoalition.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The World Farmers Markets Coalition is a Rome-based non-profit founded in 2021 that connects 90+ farmers market associations across 80+ countries to share best practices, build capacity through training programs, and advocate for local food systems at international forums including the FAO.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Nonprofit Coalition

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Farmers’ Markets & Farm Stands (Fresh Food) (CRAHAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fair Trade & Ethical Supply Chains (Certification, Traceability, Producer Support) (BPAGALAL), Agriculture, Farming & AgriTech Shows Organizers (THAHABAM), Farm-to-Consumer Produce Boxes / CSA Delivery (AFAIANAC)

Keywords

• Farmers market associations
• Local food systems
• Agricultural development
• Food policy advocacy
• Market development initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Rome

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding and Development Aid: The coalition operates as a non-profit organization funded primarily through grants and development aid programs. Funding comes from international organizations, governments, and foundations supporting local food systems development. Projects like MAMi (Mediterranean and African Markets Initiative) are financed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI). The AREA Africa Programme is implemented with CIHEAM Bari support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The World Farmers Markets Coalition is a global nonprofit network that connects farmers market associations from around the world to share best practices, build professional capacity, and advocate for farmers markets in international food policy forums. It delivers training through the WorldFMC Academy (Studios, Co-Labs, Mini-Courses, Library), develops new farmers markets in emerging economies via the MAMi initiative and AREA Africa Programme, and runs the annual General Assembly, FMCOUNT! awareness campaign, and WorldFMC Awards.

Product overview

World Farmers Markets Coalition is a global network organization (not a technology company) that connects farmers market associations from around the world to share best practices and encourage farmers markets globally. The organization operates several interconnected programs: the WorldFMC Academy provides training through monthly Studios, Co-Labs, and Mini-Courses; the MAMi (Mediterranean and African Markets Initiative) supports new market development in Africa and the Mediterranean; the FMCOUNT! campaign raises awareness through annual counting activities; and the WorldFMC Awards recognizes excellence. The coalition also runs the General Assembly as its flagship annual event, plus regional initiatives like the AREA Africa Programme and Erasmus+ Projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WorldFMC Academy: Educational platform offering Studios, Co-Labs, Mini-Courses, and a Library for farmers market professionals worldwide.
• MAMi (Mediterranean and African Markets Initiative)
• FMCOUNT! (Farmers Markets Count!)
• WorldFMC Awards
• AREA Africa Programme

Products and services

• WorldFMC Academy Training and capacity-building program for farmers market professionals offering monthly digital workshops (Studios), Co-Lab collaboration sessions, Mini-Courses, and a Library of resources to strengthen farmers markets worldwide.
• MAMi (Mediterranean and African Markets Initiative) Initiative providing technical support and capacity building for the development of new farmers markets as effective levers to revitalize rural communities, improve livelihoods for family farming, and enhance multifunctional agriculture in Africa and the Mediterranean region.
• FMCOUNT! (Farmers Markets Count!) Global campaign celebrating farmers markets as vibrant hubs for healthy food, biodiversity, and community connection, with annual counting activities for biodiversity (May 22), farmers (July 6), and shoppers (October 16).
• WorldFMC Awards Annual awards program celebrating excellence across the global farmers market movement, recognizing champions who contribute to farmers markets worldwide.
• General Assembly Annual gathering of coalition members, farmers market leaders, and food professionals from around the world to share best practices, conduct meetings, and celebrate achievements in local food systems.
• AREA Africa Programme Italian initiative to strengthen agri-food ecosystems in Africa through capacity building projects in Ghana, Congo Brazzaville, and Senegal, supporting multifunctional agriculture and pilot actions.
• Erasmus+ Farmers Competences Coalition European Commission funded project bringing together partners to support farmers and market operators across Europe with training and skills development.
• CICERO Project European Commission funded project under the CERV (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values) programme building conscious food communities across Europe through events and local food initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• Coalition has grown from founding in 2021 to over 90 member organizations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Fondazione Campagna AmicacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2021Founding coalition partner that launched WorldFMC with UN Deputy General Amina Mohammed in July 2021 at the Circo Massimo farmers market in Rome. Provides the operational network and infrastructure for the coalition's Italian activities.
• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEntered into Letters of Agreement with FAO to evaluate the landscape of farmers markets and organizational capacities of farmers market organizations. WorldFMC holds General Assemblies at FAO Headquarters and participates in FAO events including International Women's Day.
• CIHEAM BaricoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey implementation partner for the MAMi project and AREA Africa Programme, providing technical expertise and capacity building for farmers market development in Africa and Mediterranean regions.
• ColdiretticoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian farmers association and founding partner, promoting farmers markets through the Campagna Amica network. Operates the flagship Circo Massimo farmers market where the coalition was launched.
• Resilient Local Food Supply Chains AlliancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner initiative under the coalition's umbrella, focused on strengthening local food supply chains.
• IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN agency engaged with WorldFMC through Rome-based diplomatic activities and food systems transformation discussions.
• WFP (World Food Programme)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN agency engaged with WorldFMC through Rome-based diplomatic activities and food systems discussions.
• Filiera ItaliasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian agri-food chain organization partnering with WorldFMC and Coldiretti at events like the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York.
• Local FuturessupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for World Localization Day and #EatLocalChallenge campaigns, promoting local food systems awareness.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Food Tank: A global non-profit focused on building sustainable and equitable food systems through research, advocacy, and community building. Direct peer in the food systems advocacy space with similar knowledge-sharing and network-driven approach to advancing local food.
• Local Futures: An international organization promoting local economies, local food systems, and localization, with which WorldFMC has formal partnership on World Localization Day and #EatLocalChallenge. Directly comparable mission around supporting local food economies and farmers market ecosystems.
• Farmers Market Coalition (US): A US-based national farmers market association network providing training, advocacy, and resources to farmers markets. Direct peer operating as a farmers market association coalition with similar knowledge-sharing and capacity-building mission, though at a national rather than global scale.
• Fondazione Campagna Amica: The founding parent organization of WorldFMC and the largest farmers market network in Italy, operating the flagship Circo Massimo market. Directly comparable as a farmers market association network promoting direct farmer-to-consumer sales and local food systems.

Others

• RUAF Foundation: Global partnership on urban and peri-urban agriculture and city-region food systems, supporting cities to develop resilient local food systems. Adjacent to WorldFMC in the local food systems and food policy space, with a focus on urban agriculture rather than farmers markets specifically.
• IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development): UN agency investing in rural people and smallholder farmers, engaged with WorldFMC through Rome-based food systems discussions. Ecosystem participant and potential funding partner in the smallholder farmer and rural development space where WorldFMC operates.
• Resilient Local Food Supply Chains Alliance: An initiative under WorldFMC's umbrella focused on strengthening local food supply chains. Adjacent peer within the same ecosystem, with thematic overlap on local food resilience but a different specific focus on supply chains versus markets.

Regional players

• Sustainable Food Places (formerly Sustainable Food Cities): A UK-based network of food partnerships working to build sustainable, healthy, and locally-rooted food systems across cities. Comparable network model for advancing local food policy and farmers markets, but operating primarily in the UK rather than globally.

Emerging players

• CIHEAM Bari: The Mediterranean agronomic institute implementing the AREA Africa Programme and MAMi project with WorldFMC. An emerging player in the same Mediterranean/African agricultural development space, focused on capacity building, sustainable agriculture, and rural development.

Broad incumbents

• Slow Food International: A global movement headquartered in Italy advocating for good, clean, and fair food, including farmers markets, local food traditions, and agroecology. Broader incumbent in the same local/sustainable food space with overlapping advocacy and network-building activities but a wider mandate beyond farmers markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@worldfmc
• Instagraminstagram.com/worldfarmersmarketscoalition
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/worldfmc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about World Farmers Markets Coalition