An agro-ecological transition is crucial to tackle future climate challenges

Abstract

Agriculture and food systems have received relatively little attention in theclimate debates until the adoption of the Koronivia Joint Work on Agricultureat COP23 in December 2017 in Bonn. This, despite the fact that global foodsystems generate one-third of all human-caused GHG emissions, withagriculture, forestry, and other land use changes contributing as much as 25%,and livestock contributing significantly to GHG emissions. Agriculture is, andwill be further impacted by climate change in the decades to come, potentiallycompromising food security.The Paris Agreement emission reduction targets can only be achieved with the contribution of the agriculture and food sectors,which hold major potential for climate mitigation as well as adaptation. Thechallenge is to reduce those emissions while meeting unprecedented demand for food, reducing diet-related diseases and securing the livelihoods of the agricultural producers on whom all food production is ultimately reliant. This will require a major transformation, away from high-carbon, high-input agricultureto diversified agroecological production systems. Such systems have the potential not only to keep carbon in the soil and reduce GHG emissions, butalso to regenerate ecosystems, provide nutritious foods to local populations,and provide decent livelihoods for small-scale farmers - thereby contributing toas many as 12 of the 17 sustainable development goals. Such transformation requires a food system approach from production to consumption, involving allrelevant sectors and actors and developing a coherent food policy framework in order to minimize trade-offs and to create synergies among them. After yearsof neglect, it is urgent to harness the potential of agriculture and food systemsin addressing the climate challenge. 

Author(s): Emile Frison

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