Agroecology Fund’s Post

"Demand for food is set to increase more than 50% by 2050 (nearly 70% for resource-intensive foods like meat and dairy), whilst climate impacts lead to crop losses and an increased risk of disasters. Moreover, these impacts are non-linear and unpredictable: For instance, if the world reaches tipping points in the Amazon or Congo Basin, forests could turn to savannah, with untold disruption to the water cycle and food systems across continents." To address this issue, we need a multi-prong and systematic approach, from innovation to policy development. #sustainability #foodsystems #climatechange #innovation #systemsthinking

Food waste is a pressing global issue that not only squanders valuable resources but also exacerbates hunger and environmental degradation. Amid the pressing issue of food security, exacerbated by climate change, the Acting Now project emphasizes the need to assist farmers in optimizing their harvest yields. To address this, the program is exploring the implementation of a Farmer-to-Market Tool. This initiative aims to improve market access and efficiency by establishing aggregation centers. Learn more about the Acting Now project here: https://lnkd.in/dnHkvh7b #FoodSecurity #SmallholderFarmers Nozipho Ndlovu Solidaridad Southern Africa

Millions of smallholder farmers worldwide are faced with the challenges of climate change and deforestation - this study demonstrates the role played by Fairtrade in supporting farmers to protect trees and comply with new European legislation 🌳 It’s another reason to Be the Change this Fairtrade Fortnight, as we highlight how shoppers, businesses and MPs can work with Fairtrade to support farmers build stronger, more resilient and more environmentally sustainable communities 👇 https://bit.ly/4emwu0W

A Debate article in Sustainable Earth Reviews provides a brief background about the sustainable development goal 2 (zero hunger) and discusses the main challenges that the pathway towards zero hunger will have to tackle.

🍌🌎 New initiative aims to create a healthier and more sustainable food system. Project Drawdown has launched Drawdown Food, a new initiative aimed at reducing the food system's contribution to climate change. Led by executive director Jonathan Foley, Ph.D., Drawdown Food will conduct research to define best practices for enhancing global food security while minimizing adverse climate impacts. The initiative will also provide actionable information on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from food and agriculture and maximizing the land's capacity to sequester carbon dioxide. Drawdown Food has garnered support from Alta Futures, the ZG FOUNDATION, the Global Methane Hub, and the Asia Philanthropy Circle. These partnerships will enable the initiative to analyze the food sector's contributions to climate change, identify strategies to reduce methane emissions, and conduct region-specific work in Southeast Asia. The initiative aims to provide corporations, impact funders, and philanthropists with valuable insights to enhance their climate efforts. Drawdown Food will share its findings through regular reports, webinars, presentations, and research publications. By subscribing to the biweekly newsletter and following Drawdown Food on social media, individuals can stay updated on the initiative's progress and contribute to creating a healthier food system for both the planet and humanity. More information in the full Project Drawdown article: https://lnkd.in/efduVdRH #ForwardFooding #foodwaste #foodsystems #foodindustry #agriculture #emissions #climateaction

Building on the progress from COP28, where a dedicated day for food was introduced, COP29 will feature a Food, Agriculture, and Water Day on November 19th. The Harmoniya 4 Climate Resilience Initiative, a joint project by the COP29 Presidency and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, aims to enhance global collaboration and promote agricultural practices. This initiative is crucial as climate change continues to threaten crop yields, water availability, and land quality, making it increasingly difficult to feed a growing global population. #Agriculture #Farming #COP29

The coming few months present a valuable opportunity to raise global action and momentum on the set of issues spanning food, climate, hunger, nutrition and biodiversity; we cannot let them go to waste. Not so long ago, in Dubai in December 2023, 160 world leaders endorsed the UAE’s COP28 Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action: a world first, which generated a major focus on food and climate in the world’s press on day 1 of COP28. In the next few months, there are at least three major policy windows to accelerate global action on food/climate/biodiversity: (1) the revision of countries’ NBSAPs and NDCs; (2) the leadership of Colombia, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan as hosts of the coming COPs, and as they commit to work together to drive action across the three Conventions; and (3) the critical discussions to establish a new climate finance goal at COP29. On NBSAPs and NDCs, it is encouraging that a number of countries are doing good work integrating ambitious goals on food into both their biodiversity as well as climate action plans.  Of the 160 countries that signed the UAE Declaration, perhaps 40 are making progress on food in their NDCs, the signature commitment of the Declaration; there is an urgent need for others to follow suit.  Meanwhile, a few countries are going above and beyond work on their NDCs to drive action in the real economy; as we saw last week with the Alliance of Countries for Food Systems Transformation in Kigali, where Sierra Leone shone for its recent progress and investments made. On the COPs writ large, there are some encouraging signs too. Colombia, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan are working to build a shared agenda across the 3 Rio conventions: an opportunity to put food centre stage.  COP16 in Colombia will see a health and nutrition day, to include food; while the Brazilian G20 has driven action on the Global Alliance on Hunger and Poverty, a major step forward, and an alliance which could drive lasting impact. If these countries can come together in Cali, Riyadh, Baku and then Belem setting out a compelling shared vision for the need to act on food systems, hunger, climate and biodiversity, this will be a significant step forward. This then leaves the issue of finance. We know from recent research that between US$200-500bn a year are needed to transform food systems, but so far there is little sign of where and how this finance will be mobilized. There is therefore an urgent need for the world to come to an ambitious settlement in the forthcoming negotiations on the NCQG; which would then enable countries to properly and accurately prioritise actions according to mitigation, adaptation, nature and development needs (including food). In summary, there is a lot to play for: and a focus on food, climate, hunger and biodiversity in New York, Cali, Rio and Baku from now till end 2024 could drive real progress on this vital agenda.

We loved this report by Green Alliance on fixing #UK's broken food system. To tackle the challenge, we need to rethink how we use our farmland. But what’s the right path forward? Agroecology everywhere? Paying farmers to rewild parts of their land? Self-sufficiency vs. reliance on imports? Meat reduction to cut emissions? Wildlife decline vs. the drive for Net Zero? It’s a tricky balance with no one-size-fits-all solution, but the report sketches five land use scenarios to spark the conversation. Which path do you think the UK should prioritise? https://lnkd.in/e68iba3U Thomas Manandhar-Richardson

Besides conflict, climate change and nature loss are the key drivers of escalating food security crises. Agriculture and food systems produce a third of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and are the main cause of biodiversity loss and freshwater pollution — which in turn undermine food security and livelihoods, causing humanitarian crises, resource competition, migration and conflict. These risks will only intensify as demand for food is set to increase more than 50% by 2050 (nearly 70% for resource-intensive foods like meat and dairy), whilst climate impacts lead to crop losses and an increased risk of disasters. Moreover, these impacts are non-linear and unpredictable. https://lnkd.in/d9X5nFy8

#COP29 is an opportunity to direct more #climatefinance to sustainable and resilient agri-food systems. #climatesmartagriculture #biodiversity #climateadaptation #foodsystems https://lnkd.in/e88ySY-Z