On Saturday, farmers will take centre stage in Copenhagen for Agriculture and Rural Development Day, which will highlight the importance of agriculture in beating climate change and feeding the world.

Farm leaders from more than 200 countries will be there, as will scientists and farm policy makers to develop a work plan with strategies and actions to fully incorporate agriculture into the post-Copenhagen agenda.

An international lobby of farmers has been pushing for agriculture to be recognised in a stand-alone agreement when a new climate deal is reached.

Many believe this could be the only outcome achieved in Copenhagen at the end of the week.

This lobby now has the support of the World Bank, which recognises the good work farmers are doing to adapt to climate change and mitigate its effects.

They now want UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon to come out in support of including agriculture as part of the climate change negotiations.

"Farmers will not accept a one-sided outcome in which emissions are penalised, but contributions to sequestration are ignored," International Federation of Agricultural Producers' (IFAP) president, Ajay Veshee said.

"The adaptation of the agricultural sector is crucial for future food and energy security, but this is a responsibility that must be shared by society."

One of the key themes at Agriculture Day will be outlining the triple challenge to agriculture of increasing food productivity, climate resilience and greenhouse gas mitigation.

An "ideas marketplace", showcasing specific examples of ways farmers are adapting to climate change, will also be a feature.

The National Farmers Federation has sent a delegation to attend Agriculture Day, headed up by president David Crombie, and has been working closely with IFAP during this week's intense negotiations.

* Lucy Knight will be attending Agriculture Day in Copenhagen this weekend, with reports on the ongoing negotiations to be published on FarmOnline and in the Rural Press weekly newspapers.