Achieving food security in the face of climate change

Dr Christine Negra

Secretariat, Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change

Global Donor Platform for Rural Development February 28, 2012

Dr. Adrian Fernndez Bremauntz Metropolitan University, Mexico

Prof Molly Jahn University of MadisonWisconsin, USA

Sir John Beddington United Kingdom Commission Chair

Dr Marion Guillou Institut Scientifique de Recherche Agronomique (INRA), France

Prof Lin Erda Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China

Dr Nguyen Van Bo Academy of Agricultural Science, Vietnam

The Commissioners

Dr Carlos Nobre
Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Brazil

Prof Takalign Mamo

Ministry of Agriculture, Ethiopia

Prof Judi Wakhungu

African Center for Technology Studies (ACTS), Kenya

Prof Bob Scholes

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa

Dr Rita Sharma
National Advisory Council (Prime Minister's Office), India

Dr. Mohammed Asaduzzaman

Institute of Development Studies, Bangladesh

Dr Megan Clark
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia

Recommendation 1:

Integrate food security and sustainable agriculture into global and national policies
SBSTA work programme on mitigation and adaptation Finance early action in agricultural production systems: increase resilience and mitigate climate change Common platforms at global, regional and national levels for coherent dialogue and policy action

Photo: N. Palmer (CIAT)

Recommendation 2: Significantly raise the level of global investment in sustainable agriculture and food systems in the next decade Implement and strengthen G8 LAquila commitments to sustainable agriculture and food security Enable finance mechanisms to prioritise sustainable agriculture programmes (eg, UNFCC Fast Start funding) Increase knowledge of best practices and access to innovation (eg, supporting revitalised extension services)

Photo: N. Palmer (CIAT)

Recommendation 3: Sustainably intensify agricultural production while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other negative environmental impacts of agriculture Develop and facilitate multi-benefit farming systems. Introduce strategies for minimising ecosystem degradation. Empower marginalised food producers to increase productivity. Couple economic incentives for sustainable intensification with strengthening governance of land tenure, for example.

Photo: E.Phipps (CIMMYT)

Recommendation 4: Target populations and sectors that are most vulnerable to climate change and food insecurity Funds to respond to climate shocks Moderate food price fluctuations (information-sharing, early warning, safeguards in trade agreements, etc) Food security safety nets and rapid humanitarian responses to food crises Harmonize donor programs and integrate climate risk management, adaptation and mitigation co-benefits, improved nutrition

Photo: UNDP

Recommendation 5: Reshape food access and consumption patterns to ensure basic nutritional needs are met and to foster healthy and sustainable eating habits worldwide Harmonise development policy and coordinate regional programmes Promote positive diets through innovative education campaigns and economic incentives Evidence-based sustainability metrics and standards to monitor and evaluate food security, nutrition and health and provide consumers clear labelling

Photo: L Cheung (USDA)

Recommendation 6: Reduce loss and waste in food systems, particularly from infrastructure, farming practices, processing, distribution and household habits Sustainable agriculture development programmes with components on reducing waste Economic innovation to enable low-income producers to store food Promote dialogue and convene working partnerships across food supply chains

Photo: K Robinson (Panos)

Recommendation 7: Create comprehensive, shared, integrated information systems that encompass human and ecological dimensions Monitoring changes worldwide (eg, land use, food, climate, human health) Transparent, accessible, interlinked information systems (food markets) Spatially explicit decision-support systems to navigate trade-offs (biophysical and socioeconomic information)

Photo: N. Palmer (CIAT)