Researchers from America debate actions in agriculture and food security

A team of 20 negotiators from America were in Colombia from April 17 to 20 to discuss the elements of the decision of COP 27 - Conference of the Parties (COP27) of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in November 2022 in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, which sought to analyze past successes and pave the way for future ambitions, in implementing actions in agriculture and food security. The meeting is organized by the Program on Agricultural Climate Action and Sustainability, of the Ministry of Agriculture, Colombia and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture - IICA.

This exchange in the Americas seeks to formalize a common understanding to develop capabilities among representatives of the agricultural sector and strengthen working relationships in the region.

Agriculture is a key driver of food security, livelihoods, socioeconomic development, and environmental sustainability in the Americas. Considering its participation in the economy and also in greenhouse gas emissions in Latin America and the Caribbean, agriculture is a key sector as part of the climate solution. At the same time, the impacts of climate change are threatening the sector's ability to continue to make these contributions to the region.

COP 27 achieved two important results in relation to agriculture, as it fulfilled the requirements of COP 26 to report on the progress and results of the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture (KJWA) and approved the decision to continue the joint work of subsidiary bodies to technical-scientific advice (SBSTA) and implementation (SBI) in agriculture, through the “Sharm el-Sheikh joint work on implementation of climate action on agriculture and food security”, built on the elements of the decision that established the KJWA.

The KJWA is a historic decision under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that recognizes the unique potential of agriculture in combating climate change, its importance for food security and the special vulnerability to climate change. The Koronivia decision addresses six interrelated topics on soils, nutrient use, water, livestock, methods for assessing adaptation, and the socioeconomic and food security dimensions of climate change in agricultural sectors. The decision is in line with the objectives of international conventions which include eliminating hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition, reducing rural poverty and making agriculture, forestry and fishing more productive and sustainable.

The parties are now tasked with identifying the specific actions and work plan that will move forward over the next four years to meet the agreed objectives. This meeting is expected to provide strengthened training among representatives of the agricultural sector, greater cohesion among agricultural negotiators from the Americas and a better understanding of the different points of view to facilitate consensus during the formal debate in the negotiations during the 58th annual meeting of the subsidiary bodies of the UNFCCC in Bonn, Germany (SB 58), which will take place in June.

The topics analyzed covered agriculture: what happened at COP 27, what's new and formal tasks ahead for SB 58, including a workshop on barriers to more ambitious climate action in agriculture and food security and how to overcome them and presentations of country experiences in agriculture and food security.

For Marcelo Morandi, who represented Brazil at the meeting, it was a unique opportunity to discuss together with representatives from countries across America the visions of agriculture and the necessary paths to overcome the barriers to implementing adaptation actions and strengthening the resilience of agriculture. agriculture.

According to Morandi, the great diversity of models and national situations in agriculture was clear, which require efforts to implement actions that promote the sustainability of production systems and productive inclusion. Negotiations must continue to overcome political, technical and economic barriers for countries to effectively collaborate in maintaining food security and sustainable development. “Brazil has many successful experiences and can effectively contribute to the debate, but also to advance the adaptation and expansion of the adoption of sustainable practices, which promote the reduction of emissions and sustainable expansion of the food supply”, highlights the researcher.