As climate change impacts are stressing agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture increasingly, thereby hindering efforts to meet human needs, experts say implementation of a key pledge made by 130 countries at UN Climate Change conference (COP28), which took place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, will require transformative innovations on how transforming food systems will address the crisis.
The founder and Chief Executive Officer of a private foundation – Seeding The Future, which focuses on equitable and sustainable food systems, Dr. Bernhard van Lengerich, suggested that while impacts on food availability and nutritional quality are increasing the number of people at risk of hunger, malnutrition, and diet-related mortality, among other issues, said increased food safety risks are the result of climate change.
The food/climate crisis was front and centre at the COP28 where 130 country leaders pledged to address climate change through food transformation. The event highlighted by the United Nation’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), launching its roadmap for countries to meet their climate targets through agrifood solutions.
Langerich said his initiative – the yearly Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge, hosted by the Institute of Food Technologists and funded by the Seeding The Future Foundation, seeks to address issues related to food systems caused by climate change, as well as issues that are caused by the food system and are detrimental to the environment.
He said: “The Challenge, which awards $1m to winners each year, incentivizes multidisciplinary teams of scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and innovators from across the world to create transforming food system innovations that focus on the intersection of three domains: safe and nutritious food; sustainable practices addressing issues that are either caused by climate change or issues that contribute negatively to the environment; and enabling equitable access to affordable and trusted food.”
Langerich noted that climate change is further increasing pressures on terrestrial ecosystem services supporting global food systems and reducing the effectiveness of pollinator agents as species are lost from certain areas.
“Meanwhile, greenhouse gas emissions are negatively impacting air, soil, and water quality, exacerbating direct climatic impacts on yields. And climate change is also negatively impacting food safety. Higher temperatures and humidity favor toxigenic fungi, plant- and animal-based pathogens, and harmful algal blooms (HABs). More frequent and intense flood events and increased melting of snow and ice will increase food contamination.”
The UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment and COP28 Food Systems Lead, Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, highlighted COP28’s aim to redefine the approach to food, agriculture and water in the context of climate action.
During a high-level session on implementing the COP28 UAE Declaration on Agriculture, Food Systems and Climate Action, she announced that 152 nations signed the declaration, placing food and agriculture at the core of COP28.
The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina emphasised Africa’s potential as a food solutions provider for the Middle East and called for collaboration to develop Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs) in Africa. He noted that the launch of the $10b SAFE Initiative aims to improve food security, livelihoods and create green jobs through a comprehensive partnership.
During the opening ceremony at the PreCOP, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 President, called for a 43 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030, emphasising the need to implement a fair and just energy transition on the basis of equity.
