High-Level Dialogue - Moving Forward with NDC Acceleration in Agrifood Systems: Climate Technology Uptake

Climate technologies are critical to accelerating climate action and the sustainable transformation of agrifood systems. The challenge, however, is making sure they reach the ones who need it the most. This event provided a discussion on how countries can provide the right policies and enabling environment to promote sustainability and resilience in agrifood systems with the use of climate technologies. Salina Abraham, Chief of Staff and Advisor to CEO, Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF​​​​)​​​, World Agroforestry, moderated the event.

In welcoming remarks, Sarvan Jafarov, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Azerbaijan, highlighted the intersection between climate change and agrifood systems, emphasizing the need to integrate food production into climate strategies, mobilize financial resources to do so, and translate commitments into “tangible action on the ground.” Calling COP 29 a “unique opportunity” to move in this direction, Jafarov encouraged countries to form partnerships and share best practices to ensure climate resilience and food security.

Also providing opening remarks, Manuel Barange, Assistant Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), shared FAO’s work on developing guidelines in agrifood systems that utilize both traditional and innovative approaches, including: adaptation of traditional knowledge; utilization of diverse food production; and use of renewable energy in processing and cold storage. For transformative action in the agrifood sector to take place, he encouraged innovation in production techniques, investment in the education and capacity building of farmers, and increasing climate finance investment in the agrifood sector.

Daniele Violetti, Senior Director, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), highlighted the essential role that technology plays in advancing climate action and introduced the FAO report on Climate Technologies for Agrifood Systems Transformation: Placing Food Security, Climate Change and Poverty Reduction at the Forefront, which provides an overview of interlinkages between agrifood systems and climate technology.

Tarja Halonen, former President of Finland, stated that farmers are the key to tackling food security issues. Noting that half of smallholder farmers in Finland are women, she underscored the importance of using science, innovation, education, and resources to invest in their role in the food and agriculture sector.

Claudia Müller, Parliamentary State Secretary, Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Germany, emphasized the vital role that technology plays in agrifood systems, pointing to food security issues and potential hunger crises, should agrifood not be included in the climate agenda. Although Germany supported the creation of the COP 27 Food and Agriculture for Sustainable Transformation (FAST) Partnership and the COP 29 Baku Harmoniya Climate Initiativ for Farmers (Harmoniya Initiative), she encouraged countries to also innovate through existing initiatives, rather than creating new ones.

Noting the importance of agriculture in the Caucasus region, Nino Tandilashvili, First Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Georgia, shared Georgia’s work on making agriculture a top policy priority, which includes: use of climate technology and its implementation; a government support programme for technology innovation for small-scale farmers; development of irrigation systems; and development of multi hazard early warning systems.

In a video recording, Yoichi Watanabe, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan, discussed Japan’s work to increase the productivity and sustainability of food system, which include:

• the introduction of agricultural policies;
• collaboration with other Southeast Asian countries on building food resilience;
• utilization of the J-Credit Scheme, which is designed to certify the amount of greenhouse gas emissions reduced within Japan in the agricultural sector;
• advance reporting and verification; and
• dissemination of climate-smart technology in other countries as part of its Joint Credit Mechanism (JCM).

Participants then viewed a video, which served as an introduction to the second panel. It demonstrated the linkages between climate, technology, and agriculture, including its potential in addressing the climate crisis. The use of climate technology, the video suggested, can improve food security and make agrifood systems production more sustainable and resilient, particularly if it is captured in all stages of the agrifood value chain.

Barange provided an overview of the key findings of the FAO report on Climate Technologies for Agrifood Systems Transformation, which include:

• risks to food security and agrifood systems are the most reported climate-related risks in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs);
• agrifood systems are the custodian of critical adaptation and mitigation solutions;
• almost all countries identify agrifood systems as a priority for adaptation and mitigation; and
• there is an urgent need to consolidate climate action and agrifood system transformation policy.

In order to address these risks, he stressed that climate technology is key, and the way to harness this solution for agrifood systems includes strengthening technology needs assessments and the inclusion of climate technology for agrifood systems in NDCs and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).

Presenting on the same report, Thibyan Ibrahim, Chair, UNFCCC Technology Executive Committee (TEC), presented examples of projects that utilize climate technology in agrifood systems. Report recommendations, he said, include: using climate technologies to spur progress on adaptation, resilience, and emissions reduction; considering the entire agrifood value chain; and capacity building on the benefits of climate technology.

Betty Chinyamunyamu, Chief Executive Officer, National Smallholder Farmers’ Association of Malawi, emphasized the importance of engaging with farmers from the initial development of technology to its implementation and making the technology accessible to them.

Amgad Elmahdi, Regional Manager for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Green Climate Fund (GCF), stated that viewing farmers as investors helps countries create policies and regulatory frameworks that promote the right investment landscape for the agrifood sector, from removing barriers to finance to ensuring projects are bankable and affordable.

From seed banks in Africa to reforestation methods in the Pacific, Faith Nataya, Maasai Indigenous People, Kenya, encouraged the use of traditional and Indigenous knowledge to enhance and innovate agrifood systems around the world.

Charles Brand, President, Tetra Pak Europe and Central Asia, called on policymakers to work on the “hidden middle” of agrifood systems, which covers the agricultural value chain from farm gate to consumers, to enable the transformation and sustainability of food systems.

Pedro Ivo Ferraz da Silva, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brazil, shared Brazil’s work in its agriculture sector, which includes: research and development; institutionalization of applied research; innovation of technology and techniques; and introduction of policies that focus on the agricultural sector.

In his closing remarks, Fred Onduri, Chair of the Advisory Board, Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN), stated that accelerating progress in NDCs of agrifood systems through climate technology is key to boosting resilience and ensuring food security. He noted a growing demand from developing countries to improve agrifood systems through technology, such as irrigation systems, meteorological systems on climate data, drones and artificial intelligence, hydroponics, aquaponics, and floating farms. In order to scale up these initiatives, he added, community training, creating the right enabling environment, mobilizing finance, and promoting social inclusion are needed.

Organizer: FAO, UNFCCC TEC

Contact: Inkar Kadyrzhanova | Inkar.Kadyrzhanova@fao.org

Website: https://www.fao.org/