A group of leading international food organizations has recently published a report outlining six pathways for policymakers to take “urgent action” to transform food systems. This report emphasizes that global food systems are responsible for over 30% of greenhouse gas emissions. If we continue on our current path, emissions from food systems alone will surpass 1.5°C between 2051-2063.
The report is from the newly formed Food Systems Partnership, which includes EIT Food, the Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU), Clim-Eat, Environmental Defense Fund, Carrier, and Coalition of Action for Soil Health. This group evolved from the first-ever Food Systems Pavilion, which hosted two weeks of programming at COP27. They campaigned for the inclusion of a food systems approach within the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture, a special decision under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The “Pathways for food systems transformation” report was launched at the recent Bonn Climate Change Conference. This conference is expected to lay the groundwork for the global negotiations at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai later this year. The report admits that while there has been a positive trend in recognizing food systems as part of national climate solutions, most countries have yet to realize the full potential of including action on food systems in their climate strategies.
For example, despite food and agriculture being recognized as the largest sources of environmental degradation, there is no mention of food or food systems in any of the four Global Goals for 2050 outlined in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This framework includes four goals and 23 targets to be achieved by 2030 but fails to acknowledge the role of food systems in achieving these goals.
Although the update to the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture at COP27 included the term “food systems” in the final text, it did not fully recognize the role of food systems in strengthening climate adaptation, mitigation, and resilience. Dr. Lucy Wallace, Chief of Staff at EIT Food, states that the Bonn Climate Change Conference is a critical moment to elevate food systems within global climate negotiations. She emphasizes the need for further progress and increased willingness and dedication to finding solutions quickly, even if compromises may be necessary.
The Food Systems Partnership is calling on the COP28 Presidency to prioritize the role of food systems. The report outlines six key calls to action, including enhancing collaboration and inclusion, transitioning to healthy and sustainable diets, embracing agricultural reform, increasing action against food loss and waste, transforming financial mechanisms, and championing consistent monitoring and reporting to track global progress.
To attract a diverse community of supporters, the partnership plans to establish a new “Producers Hub” led by food producers at COP28. Katie McCoshan, Policy and International Engagement Manager at FOLU, emphasizes the importance of forging deeper partnerships and implementing them at COP28 and beyond. She emphasizes the need for a systems-wide approach to food and land use systems transformation, which is critical not only to the climate agenda but to health, livelihoods, energy, nature, and water. Collaboration, including within the formal UNFCCC processes, is the only option.
In conclusion, this report from the Food Systems Partnership provides pathways for urgent action to transform food systems. It highlights the need to prioritize food systems in global climate negotiations and calls for collaboration and inclusion at all levels. The partnership aims to bring together a diverse community of supporters and establish a Producers Hub led by food producers. By implementing the outlined actions, we can work towards sustainable and equitable food systems that contribute to addressing the climate crisis.