COP28 Focuses on Links Between Agriculture and Climate Change
The climate conference has "built the foundations for action," says the UAE's minister for climate change, with 152 countries agreeing to transform their food systems and embed commitments in climate strategies while protecting livelihoods
A top focus at this year’s COP28 climate summit in Dubai was on the strong links between climate change, food systems and agriculture, showing many vulnerabilities for long-term food and climate security.
Alesca, an agri-tech company that launched in 2013, showed some of its solutions at COP28 to localize farming. The company, which has offices in Dubai and various Asian cities, develops vertical farms and agriculture solutions, such as software and monitoring devices, for customers who want help to make existing farms more efficient.
“We want to develop the technology that makes it possible for anyone anywhere to grow food,” Stuart Oda, the founder of Alesca Life Technologies, said in introducing the company’s vertical farms, which offer a solution to reduce transportation, in turn reducing emissions.
Agriculture is a strong proponent of climate mitigation and adaptation. It plays a dual role as a contributor to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions
Globally, food and farming contribute about a third of global emissions, which led COP28 to introduce Nationally Determined Contributions to improve global food systems and their effect on climate change.
“Agriculture is a strong proponent of climate mitigation and adaptation. It plays a dual role as a contributor to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions,” Samantha Kayruz, head of strategy and sustainability impact at Goumbook, an organization dedicated to accelerating sustainability and climate action in the United Arab Emirates, told The Media Line.
“Yet if we allow nature to regenerate, agricultural food systems, in particular soil, play a vital and impactful role as a key solution to carbon sequestration and in its role in enhancing biodiversity,” she said.
Goumbook has launched its Regenerative Agriculture Venture Program to explore the role of research- and science-based innovations in processes and technologies. One program aim has been to mobilize the capacity building, support, funding and infrastructure to ensure that researchers help drive business solutions that “move us closer to tackling food security and climate-related challenges,” Kayruz said.
“The Regenerative Agriculture Venture Program aims to empower and upskill researchers and students who are addressing fundamental agricultural challenges of the MENAT region. It is a transformative journey to develop entrepreneurship skills in the domain of research-based regenerative agriculture solutions.”
During COP28, the United States and the UAE announced that climate-friendly farming around the world is an industry that has grown to more than $17 billion.
The Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate, launched at COP26 in Glasgow, which is funded by governments, companies, and non-governmental organizations, announced at this year’s conference an increased $3.4 billion in aggregated funding for climate-smart food systems and agriculture, as well as 27 new innovation sprints.
We must address the connection between global food systems, agriculture, and the climate. … Together, we must build a global food system that is fit for the future.
“This partnership embodies our shared commitment to accelerating investments in transformative food systems and climate-smart agricultural innovations,” US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said in a statement.
“To achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, to keep 1.5C within reach, we must address the connection between global food systems, agriculture, and the climate,” said Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, the UAE’s minister of Climate Change and Environment and the COP28 Food Systems lead.
“At COP28, we have built the foundations for action, which commit 152 countries to transform their food systems, and embedding those commitments in their climate strategies, all the while ensuring they are protecting the livelihoods of those who depend on those sectors. Together, we must build a global food system that is fit for the future. Today marks an important moment in achieving this,” she said.
If we act urgently to transform our agrifood systems through the adoption of proven technologies and innovations, we can end hunger for all and grow prosperity within safe planetary boundaries
During the conference, the COP28 UAE presidency, UN Food and Agriculture Organization, World Bank, food security group CGIAR, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development came together to launch the Agrifood Sharm-El Sheikh Support Program, a three-year program aimed at facilitating dialogue and knowledge-sharing among global and regional policymakers.
“If we act urgently to transform our agrifood systems through the adoption of proven technologies and innovations, we can end hunger for all and grow prosperity within safe planetary boundaries,” said Ismahane Elouafi, executive managing director of CGIAR.
“By pooling our efforts, we can support countries, namely in the global south, to develop and implement their national pathways based on science and evidence. Together, with science, we can.”
