Food
and Agriculture
Pavilion

CGIAR in Africa: Accelerating delivery of science-based innovations for climate resilience across Africa through partnership

CGIAR's three Africa-based Regional Integrated Initiatives and their partners share experiences in scaling climate adaptation and mitigation efforts for accelerated growth in East and Southern Africa, West and Central Africa, and North Africa. They consider impacts on food system transformations; national and regional policies; finance; and resilience building, especially among vulnerable populations.

Featuring research and innovation to address food security in Africa amidst climate change

Global food crises, conflicts, and trade shocks increasingly highlight the vulnerability of Africa’s food systems, and global food, water and biodiversity systems. In this session, CGIAR and partners unveil knowledge and initiatives to foster transformative adaptation approaches and respond sustainably to food security challenges, addressing root causes of vulnerability while contributing to sustaining peace.

What’s the best approach to transformative adaptation for resilient agriculture in Africa?

By 2050, up to $50 billion will be needed yearly for climate change adaptation in Africa. The scale of the challenge requires a transformative response: incremental action is not enough. This event defines transformative adaptation and explore the most promising actions in African agriculture.

Climate security for the global drylands

Integrated desert farming transforms agrifood systems for climate resilience, better water management, climate smart crops, community livestock breeding and desert agroforestry. This event explores how regional collaboration, improved policies and increased investment for desert farming will mitigate and adapt agriculture to the climate crisis.

Food systems opportunities to deliver low-emission climate-resilient development strategies

This session looks at the potential for integrating food system approaches into long-term low greenhouse gas emission and climate resilient development strategies, as Article 4 of the Paris Agreement prescribes. It will draw on the ongoing efforts to develop guidelines for African countries and the experiences of countries that have developed and are implementing such strategies.

How a new African strategy for climate action can make agriculture and food systems resilient

Examining how the African Union Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (2022–2032) serves as a common guide for governments and donors to maximize impact, including how Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) is a proof-of-concept for African climate initiatives.

Multistakeholder partnerships to tackle the global food crisis through regenerative agriculture

The global scale and complexities of food insecurity calls countries to prioritize the policy actions needed through multi-stakeholder dialogues. Representatives from the public and private sector put forward policies for food systems transformation through regenerative agriculture and climate action.

A roadmap to align food, finance and philanthropy with climate goals

There is a lack of consensus on what changes need to happen in food systems by 2050 to align with climate and nature goals, and how finance can align with this. This breakfast panel discussion explores how private, public and philanthropic funding in food systems can align with climate goals, and the role a global agricultural roadmap could play.

Two sides of the same coin: Advancing joint action on climate and food security

This panel discussion focuses on the ripple effects of climate change on global food security. By fostering the exchange between different stakeholders, it aims to strengthen complementary approaches and align efforts addressing both climate change and food insecurity.

Lessons from different mitigation areas: case studies on research and tools to quantify emissions, and mitigation strategies in the dairy sector

The side event presents case studies to highlight opportunities and challenges of available mitigation strategies in different areas focusing on concrete projects to quantify emissions in tropical ecosystems, and the progress of climate action in the dairy sector.

Promoting more and better (blended) finance for the adaptation of African food systems

This event contributes to identifying actions and building partnerships for increasing finance for the adaptation of food systems, with a focus on access to finance for local actors and informing negotiators.

Indigenous Peoples’ food systems: regenerative, resilient and protectors of the land

This event showcases knowledge and learning from Indigenous Peoples’ regenerative food systems.

Accelerating youth for a climate smart world

The next generation of skilled agrifood scientists and engineers is needed to sustain and make the food system ever more sustainable, especially in face of climate change. This event explores opportunities for young people to be trained, mentored and accelerated into leadership in the sector.

Leveraging global markets and innovative finance for food system resilience: A look at East Africa

Joined by key stakeholders, CGIAR, Planet Tracker and the Africa Group of Negotiators Expert Support (AGNES) system give an overview of countries' exposure to climate risk and nature dependency, discussing opportunities for innovative financial instruments, for the design of a Green Climate Fund (GCF) proposal for East Africa to enable climate change adaptation.

Science to shape a climate smart and nature-positive financial system: Launch of the CGIAR Hub for Sustainable Finance (OneSF)

This session officially launched the CGIAR Hub for Sustainable Finance (OneSF). We will present a first-of-its-kind science-based architecture to enable financial institutions and investors to quantify climate and environmental risk and impacts in food systems investments, draw lessons learned from the Climate Smart Food System Fund launched by responsAbility and CGIAR, and identify with key stakeholders the way forward to transition towards climate smart and nature-positive financial systems.

Put healthy diets and nutrition at the center of food system transformation

Globally millions of people are at risk of under-nourishment due to extreme climate events that threaten local food production. There is also an increasing epidemic of obesity and diet-related illnesses that coincides with the rise of the Western-style diets. Speakers discuss why it is essential to put healthy diets at the centre of the agrifood system reform that responds to the climate emergency.

CLIFF-GRADS: Building capacity for climate change research in the next generation of scientific leaders from the Global South

The Climate, Food and Farming, Global Research Alliance Development Scholarships Programme (CLIFF-GRADS) offers exciting opportunities for early career scientists from low- and middle-income countries to learn to conduct applied research in agricultural greenhouse gas emission quantification and mitigation. In this session, some of these young scientists share how the experience they acquired through this program has boosted their careers.

Regen10: Opportunities to scale regenerative food systems for people, nature and climate

This event celebrates the inception of Regen10 as a global community of food producers, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, business networks, landscape stewards and aligned initiatives. Regen10 aims to learn from landscape-level approaches to measure the outcomes of regenerative approaches in different contexts.

Livestock transitions: Global options and local realities for adaptation and mitigation

We must reduce livestock emissions to achieve the 1.5°C goal, but actions must be tailored to local production systems and recognize trade-offs. This event uses examples from Brazil and Kenya to show how mitigation and adaptation can be prioritized depending on context.

Triangular cooperation: Innovative climate-smart solutions

Triangular cooperation can help to achieve the SDGs in innovative and collaborative ways and provide solutions to overcome today's most pressing challenges. This event unpacks triangular cooperation in the context of climate change and food systems transformation and how impact can be achieved.

The future Is now: How to unlock young farmers’ potential for a sustainable future of food systems

Youth have a tremendous impact on ensuring that food and agriculture are part of the conversations. Young people, including young farmers, are challenging us to leap into more sustainable, climate-resilient, nature-positive practices. The event will explore how youth is working and can be empowered to catalyze their potential for climate action.

Innovative projects by Israeli youth to help achieving the SDGs

About the event More information coming soon. Watch the recording

Unlocking the power of youth-led innovation in ag and climate-tech to transform global food systems

Research and innovation can help develop science-based technologies and policies that can make food systems more equitable, resilient and sustainable. This session highlights how youth-led innovation contributes to this aim and policy priorities set by youth to unlock their potential as innovators.

Koronivia’s future: Widen the mandate to a food systems approach

This event focuses on the importance of widening the mandate of Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture (KJWA) to go beyond agriculture and include food systems. Speakers from government, academia and civil society outline why a food systems approach will deliver better outcomes for climate, people and nature.

Climate security and agriculture: Strategies for inclusive adaptation

Climate change-related droughts, natural disasters, and crop failures are undermining livelihoods and food security, and leading to mass forced displacements. Join policymakers as they announce new commitments on locally-based agronomic solutions and hear from grassroots leaders as they share strategies for ensuring an inclusive and resilient global food system. Together, speakers identify entry points and promising practices for realizing equal access to decision-making, climate financing, land ownership, technology, and agronomy research.

African Food Systems Transformation Initiative (AFSTI): Sustainably scaling African food systems

A joint effort between Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and the UN Climate Change High Level Champions, AFSTI accelerates the adoption of high yielding, adaptive and resilient practices in Africa through an ecosystem approach. The session showcases real opportunities and seeks commitments from funders and partners aiming to pivot the African food system towards more resilient practices.

A sustainable and inclusive agriculture transformation, engaging the private sector

This event explores how the private sector can transform and build climate-adaptive LDC (least developed countries') food systems and complementary needs.

Accelerating AIM for Climate investments for smallholder agriculture

This event serves as a platform for high-level government officials and other key AIM for Climate (AIM4C) partners to announce new AIM4C innovation sprints, as well as highlight progress made against previously announced innovation sprints and related commitments. It is an opportunity for governments and partners to speak to the importance of AIM4C investments in agricultural research for climate adaptation, including those in partnership with CGIAR, that benefit smallholder farmers.

Pathways to Dairy Net Zero: Results and progress

This event reports on the progress being made on Pathways to Dairy Net Zero, a global climate initiative launched by the dairy sector last year and supported by FAO. The event was conducted in person with presentations from key UN actors, governments and other stakeholders.

Carbon neutral and resilient agrifood systems

This session discusses carbon neutrality and resilience to shocks in local and global agrifood supply chains and systems through four perspectives: resilience and adaptation of agrifood systems; business and greenhouse gas emissions in supply chains; leveraging technology; and innovation to reduce emissions.

Farmers at the center of climate action

Through this event, a diverse panel of food producers spotlight agroecology, regenerative agriculture and other innovative approaches, systems and practices they are using to improve food and nutrition security while simultaneously enhancing health and livelihoods, improving the environment, enhancing biodiversity and delivering high value terrestrial solutions to climate change.

Food loss and waste reduction for a better climate

The event showcases how food loss and waste reduction can contribute to emissions reduction and scaled-up adaptation efforts. It identifies priority interventions to support innovations by small-scale producers to reduce food loss and waste and contribute to climate action. A pledge is launched inviting different stakeholders to make voluntary commitments to actions to reduce food loss and waste.

Digitalization of agrifood systems for global food security

The war in Ukraine has exacerbated global food security, which was already affected by climate change and two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. To increase the security and resilience of global agrifood systems, a renewed focus on increasing sustainable productivity across existing farmlands is needed. This is where digital technologies, especially mobile solutions, can help, and innovation in the agricultural sector is the key.

Climate-smart initiatives in small-scale aquatic food systems for sustainable healthy diets

This event builds on 'The Role of Aquatic Foods in Sustainable Healthy Diets', which highlighted that sustainable healthy diets must include diverse aquatic foods, inclusive policy frameworks, and access to innovative climate-smart technologies for small-scale aquatic food producers to ensure the four betters: production, environment, nutrition and life.

Unlocking climate finance for agrifood system transformation

This side event showcases how FAO’s partnership with GCF and the GEF scales up climate finance for high-impact projects that promote green and climate-resilient agrifood systems. Speakers draw from experiences in Côte d’Ivoire and Southeast Asia where successful partnerships are transforming value chains so no one is left behind.

Ensuring that food business can be net zero

This panel focuses on how small, medium, and large scale companies are becoming carbon neutral, not over the long term, but now.

Genetic resources for climate adaptation

Genebanks offer crop diversity solutions with their climate-smart genetic traits to ensure climate-resilience of globally important crops. This session explores the importance of diverse genetic traits in landraces and wild relatives that help ensure global food systems are resilient in the face of a rapidly changing climate.

Scaling climate resilient solutions via innovative SMEs and WEF nexus approach

The event brings forward the experiences of mobilizing innovative solutions to enhance food systems and food security based on sustainable water and energy use. Scaling these climate resilient solutions from the Middle East and Africa helps market value chains to transform and communities to adapt.

Official launch of the new FAO Strategy on Climate Change 2022–2031

This high-level event presents FAO’s new Strategy on Climate Change, and stakeholders’ perspectives.

Measuring progress on adaptation and mitigation of women in agriculture: What does it take?

Metrics and frameworks to track women’s (and men’s) progress on climate change adaptation and mitigation are urgently needed. This interactive panel engages key stakeholders, including farmers and funders, to discuss the development of inclusive metrics and monitoring frameworks.

How can we help women and youth build resilience against climate change? 

We highlight why women and youth are more exposed to climate change and how climate adaptation strategies and climate-smart agriculture can help achieve resilience, gender equality and social equity outcomes at once. Speakers share about gender and climate hotspot mapping, the Gender Empowerment Index, and explore the enabling policy and financial environment to increase gender equality and social inclusion in climate resilience. 

The global fertilizer crisis: Implications for the transformation towards climate-resilient agrifood systems

Improved nutrient management and fertilizer efficiency, and promotion of locally available alternatives to mineral fertilizer, can contribute to climate change mitigation while strengthening the resilience of agroecosystems. This side event, hosted by BMZ, brings together leaders from governments, industry, research and civil society. Speakers discuss priority actions and commitments needed to respond to the short-term needs of poor farmers and consumers in the Global South, while not losing sight of the objective to support the transformation towards climate-friendly and resilient agrifood systems.

Farmers as soil carbon stewards

Agriculture, and in particular agricultural soils, can play a crucial role in food security and climate change. Regenerative agriculture has great potential to store carbon in the ground and restore healthy ecosystems, while improving the livelihood of farmers. Supporting farmers to shift from conventional practices to organic and biodynamic agriculture has succeeded in increasing their standard of living, especially after introducing the Economy of Love carbon credits.

Gender-responsive and sensitive strategies to combat climate change in aquatic food systems

This session shares information and knowledge on climate change, gender and aquatic foods, identifying priority investments and interventions needed to deliver positive change for women's empowerment, gender equality and social inclusion in aquatic food systems, while safeguarding ecosystems.

Building the Beans is How theory of change

This interactive event features members of the newly formed Beans is How Science & Innovation Advisory Council and draws upon specialist knowledge to answer the question: “How can we effectively measure and achieve the goal of doubling global bean consumption in five years?”

Strengthening climate action in agriculture through regional integration

This event shares results of the Platform for Climate Action in Agriculture in Latin America and the Caribbean (PLACA), to highlight the importance of this regional collaborative mechanism in supporting ministries of agriculture to achieve sectoral climate commitments under the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Unlocking multi-stakeholder collaboration for transformative agrifood systems through NDCs and NAPs

The event highlights country experiences and needs in planning, financing and implementing climate solutions through systems-thinking in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). Discussions emphasize the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration to harness the potential of agrifood systems, with examples from Africa.

Smallholder farmers lead the way to scale climate solutions

Some of the communities most vulnerable to the climate crisis are the small-scale farmers and workers in the Fairtrade system. Fairtrade recognizes the importance of environmental protection and early adaptation to climate change for all as key pillars for building sustainable livelihoods. This session showcases how the Fairtrade system works to facilitate the implementation of environmental requirements, especially measures that enable decarbonization in certified commodities.

Integrating climate action: managing the food, energy and water nexus for sustainable development

The food, energy and water nexus is at the heart of climate action and sustainable development. In this session, panellists from governments, business and research, with UN agencies, share perspectives on integrated resource planning and management for sustainable climate-resilient development.

Climate risks to water resources for food security: linking global, regional and national responses

With agrifood sectors as one of the main users of water, climate change poses a serious threat to places around the world already faced with water scarcity and drought. This event brings together global frameworks, regional approaches and national actions that are attempting to address these risks.

Elaborating the Africa Climate Smart Agriculture Framework (ACSAF) and its Plan of Action

The main objective of this event is to launch an inclusive process for the elaboration and validation of the Africa Climate Smart Agriculture Framework and its 10-year Plan of Action. The ACSAF aims to streamline implementation and strengthen coordination of climate-smart agriculture actions. 

Agricultural transformation requires a stronger focus on justice for vulnerable farmers

At COP27, the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture will determine agriculture’s future in climate talks. Yet research from University of Leeds shows the working group has not prioritized justice. Audience and speakers discuss just agricultural transformation in the UNFCCC and beyond.

Indigenous Peoples and producer organizations upscaling biocentric climate action

Indigenous Peoples and forest and farm producer organizations will share more information about their holistic food, knowledge, and territorial management systems, the Indigenous Peoples’ biocentric approach, and their contribution to ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation. The event focuses on how to support farmers organizations and Indigenous Peoples to accelerate climate action.

Can nature-based solutions create the necessary resilience for ecosystems and communities in the Sahel’s Great Green Wall?

Complementary action at multiple levels is needed to achieve ecosystem and community resilience across the Sahel. Join us for a lively discussion highlighting the potential for nature-based solutions to increase resilience and harness finance for the Great Green Wall. The session showcases applications of nature-based solution approaches helping to restore the Sahel and address food insecurity, climate change and biodiversity loss.

Building pathways towards more climate-friendly food systems

In this session, countries from across the world will present their success stories and best practices and CGIAR leaders elaborate on how four new CGIAR Initiatives — Agroecology, Nature-Positive Solutions, Sustainable Intensification and Excellence in Agronomy — can join forces to create a framework for more productive, nutritious, sustainable and socially just food systems.

Just Transition in the agricultural sector: Social protection as a pathway for sustainable and inclusive climate actions in agrifood systems

The event brings together policymakers, civil society, trade unions, practitioners, and researchers to discuss pathways for a Just Transition in the agricultural sectors, how to enhance sustainable and inclusive climate actions in food systems and why social protection can be leveraged to make climate actions in agrifood systems more inclusive and effective. It will provide a forum for sharing evidence, policy insights, and programmatic approaches.

Forest-climate solutions: Leveraging forests and trees for climate stability and food security

This event highlights the key role of forests and trees in simultaneously supporting climate stability and food security through the launch of three complementary publications by FAO and partners.

Agronomy provides key entry points for climate change adaptation with mitigation as co-benefits

The CGIAR Initiative Excellence in Agronomy aims to deliver agronomic gain for smallholder farming households in the Global South and ensure the minimum viable products of all its Use Cases explicitly address region-specific climate change hazards. This session includes examples of how agronomy can address climate change and planned future activities on agronomy and climate change adaptation.

Science and innovation for climate adaptation of African agriculture

This event features a synthesis of the outcomes of the FAO Science and Innovation Forum 2022 side event on science and innovation for African Agriculture. It focuses on climate change impacts on agriculture and food security in Africa and discusses future research for development strategies for climate change adaptation and sustainable intensification of African agriculture.

Decoupling agriculture from deforestation: Win-wins for climate, livelihoods and food security

The event features high-level interventions and evidence-based practices from countries and key international actors for agriculture-forestry win-win opportunities that directly contribute to climate change mitigation and resilient landscapes for food security and livelihoods. 

Nutrition-sensitive and climate-smart agrifood systems: Tools and options to move to implementation

This event describes efforts linking nutrition and climate action in practice with a focus on agrifood system transformation. FAO and partners highlight innovative tools and mechanisms to bring the ambition of nutrition-sensitive, climate-smart agrifood systems to action.

Transforming climate-resilient aquatic food systems for shared prosperity

The Advanced Climate Smart Aquaculture Technologies (ACliSAT) project is promoting climate smart aquaculture systems through development and adoption of water-use efficient and cost-effective systems under water-deficient conditions and reduce global gas emission and contribute to food security.

City region food systems: Strengthening resilience against multiple shocks and stresses

The event calls on cities and partners to take a territorial systems and circular approach to building food resilience. In a panel setting, cities and practitioners will discuss transformative solutions, initiatives from partner organizations, and insights from a recent global study from FAO.

Solar irrigation to address recurring global food, nutrition and fuel crises in a climate emergency

This session introduces new findings on solar irrigation uptake and challenges in Africa and South Asia, and the potential of the technology in a climate crisis. Key stakeholders discuss tradeoffs across greenhouse gas mitigation, food and nutrition security and water depletion.

Accelerating digital climate services for resilient food systems in the Global South

In the Global South, farmers are observing their traditional knowledge of weather patterns is becoming increasingly unreliable for making farming decisions due to climate change, and demand climate services that can fill this vacuum. This event showcases pioneering efforts to enable meteorological agencies in the Global South to produce accurate climate information, co-create digital climate services for agricultural systems (crops, aquaculture and livestock) and support sustainable and inclusive business models.

Assessing climate risks and opportunities in SIDS coasts, communities and ecosystems

This event launches new climate data and findings of studies on climate change in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and discusses climate solutions for coastal areas and ocean economies in SIDS.

Low emissions food systems in conflict-affected settings

This side event discusses evidence on the links between food systems emissions and conflict, as well as evidence on how to scale approaches for achieving low emissions food systems and peace.

Inclusive climate-smart digital technologies: Can small-scale farmers get on board?

Climate-smart technologies can only help fight climate change if they are embraced by small-scale farmers. Most digital solutions are scalable and profitable especially for big farms. Our panelists discuss how digital solutions can be designed and made available in more inclusive ways.

Sustainable and circular bioeconomy in the climate agenda: Opportunities to transform agrifood systems

This event raises awareness of circular bioeconomy opportunities to transform agrifood systems and accelerate implementation of climate action. The outcome will be a call for enhanced climate ambition with the sustainable use of biological resources and innovations across economic sectors.

Anticipatory actions and multi-risk management interventions for climate security

The frequency and intensity of climate shocks coupled with raising violence and conflict increasingly affects the food security of millions of people worldwide. This session discusses how to strengthen the resilience of food systems and innovative interventions, including anticipatory actions, to reduce both climate and conflict threats.

Scaling up disaster and climate risk management actions to prevent food crises

The event highlights the main drivers of food insecurity driven by extreme events, conflicts, and socio-economic shocks and disturbances, and explores ways to build inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems for all, through scaling up disaster and climate risk management actions. The moderated discussion focuses on concrete tools and actions to tackle the increasing impacts of disasters on the most vulnerable and their communities, including the climate-related and protracted nature of food crises.

Improving climate resilient food systems in fragile and conflict-affected settings: A way forward for peace and food security?

Failure to acknowledge the role of climate as a “threat multiplier” jeopardizes the efficacy of national efforts to improve resilience capacities and achieve SDGs, especially in fragile settings. This panel discusses concrete food systems solutions to achieve a “climate resilience peace.”