This is the first category of options to encourage, guide and promote the realization of Farmers’ Rights in the Options Document. It comprises options for the recognition of local and indigenous communities’ and farmers’ contributions to the conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA, such as awards and recognition of custodian/guardian farmers.

Establish prizes and awards to honor custodian/guardian farmers, farming communities and their organizations who contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA in an outstanding manner.

Highlight the role and expertise of farmers, farming communities and their organizations in the conservation and/or development of PGRFA by mentioning their names and further details in official records.

Designate locally, nationally or Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems sites for the conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA and support farmers and their organizations in the sustainable management and governance of such sites.

From history we know how discussions on Farmers' Rights have caused heated debates and conflicts rather than progress in the implementation of these rights. After decades of conflicts and mounting barriers against the realization of Farmers' Rights, it is now vital to move beyond the earlier controversies, build bridges and join forces across sectors to make Farmers' Rights a reality.

Farmers are not defined in the International Treaty. However, in several provisions, the Treaty emphasizes farmers who conserve and develop plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, particularly so in the provisions on Farmers' Rights.

In some countries most farmers are members of farmers' organizations, in other countries few farmers have such memberships. However, even in countries with high membership levels it may be difficult to identify legitimate representatives of farmers, because not all organizations have participatory and democratic methods of electing representatives.

Ideally farmers should do so themselves. In countries with high membership levels and good representation, it is possible to invite the relevant organizations to identify representatives themselves. Perhaps they will choose some of their leaders and some farmer members to ensure that the views from the ground are well covered.

Even when farmers have been identified on a legitimate basis, it is not necessarily sufficient to ensure farmers' active participation in the implementation process.

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Whereas steps 1 and 2 are concerned with the foundation for the implementation process, this third step describes how a broad-based national consultative process can be designed for the implementation of Farmers' Rights. It is based on the workshop module developed for this purpose.

Ensuring farmers' participation in the implementation process is crucial for at least three reasons.