Global initiatives to enable smallholder farmers to become more climate resilient are having an impact, but more investments are needed to support farmer livelihoods and global food and nutrition security in the face of increasingly volatile conditions, according to a panel organized by Farm Journal Foundation at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Initiatives such as the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate), the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS), and others, as well as bilateral efforts such as the U.S. government’s Feed the Future Initiative, have prioritized smallholder agriculture in lower-income countries by developing new tools and technologies to increase farmer resilience. Monday’s panel explored recent progress and potential future opportunities toward improving the productivity, livelihoods, and nutrition of smallholder producers, many of whom are women, in the face of climate change and other challenges.
“Farmers face increasingly serious challenges from extreme weather, pest and disease outbreaks, and other shocks, and this disproportionately affects smallholders in lower and middle income countries,” said Rose Barbuto, Farm Journal Foundation’s Senior Policy Adviser and the moderator of the event. “Investments in public agricultural research and international development are critical for enabling farmers to become more resilient, and ultimately for protecting global food and nutrition security.”
Tens of thousands of people from around the globe, including government officials, climate change experts, industry stakeholders, and representatives from the public and private sector, are currently gathered in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP29. This year it’s focused on climate financing, and one area leaders are looking at is agriculture.
Farm Journal Foundation’s event, Climate-Smart Solutions for Smallholders: Taking Stock of Progress and Future Opportunities in Agriculture, included a fireside chat with the Foundation’s Farmer Ambassador from Arkansas, Brad Doyle, and Bill Hohenstein, Director of the Office of Energy and Environmental Policy for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The two spoke about growing challenges in agriculture from climate change and how USDA and the U.S. government are helping farmers – both here in the United States and in lower-income countries – stay in business to feed and nourish the world in the face of this issue.
“This is my third time attending COP and this week in particular, I was excited to speak with USDA Director, Bill Hohenstein, in the Office of Energy and Environmental Policy,” said Farm Journal Foundation Farmer Ambassador Brad Doyle. “We shared with the audience what USDA is working on when it comes to Climate-Smart solutions for smallholders, along with what challenges, initiatives, and solutions the future holds for farmers battling climate change.”
The event also featured an expert panel with Matthias Berninger, EVP, Head of Public Affairs, Sustainability and Safety, Bayer; Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director, CGIAR; and Michelle Kagari, Global Director for Government Relations and Policy, One Acre Fund. Panelists gave their thoughts on progress against various initiatives focused on smallholder farmers, taking stock of how recent global and bilateral initiatives have catalyzed investment in climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation. They also discussed programmatic examples of solutions that have scaled among smallholder producers to help them build more resilient, nutritious local food systems.
Farm Journal Foundation also held a private roundtable discussion with the bipartisan U.S. Senate staff delegation to COP29 and key leaders in global food and nutrition security, including Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director, CGIAR; Lindsey Doyle, Director of The President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience (PREPARE); A.G. Kawamura, Farm Journal Foundation Farmer Ambassador from California and former Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture; and Rose Barbuto, Farm Journal Foundation’s Senior Policy Adviser. The dialogue with Senate staffers focused on U.S. leadership on global agricultural development and innovation , and how investments in these areas improve the productivity, nutrition, and resilience of smallholder farmers in lower income countries. There was also discussion of how programs and initiatives in this space directly connect to U.S. national security and economic interests.
COP29 is hosting Food, Agriculture, and Water Day on Tuesday, Nov. 19, highlighting the importance of food and agriculture as a central component of climate solutions. Organizers and participants alike hope to empower farmers, particularly women and youth, to build climate-resilient agricultural communities, while working to identify gaps in resource allocation. Countries in attendance are working on agreeing on a new post-2025 climate finance goal.
Farm Journal Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to advance global food and nutrition security, sustainable agriculture, and rural economic development. The Foundation believes in a future where food systems work for everyone – farmers, consumers, economies, and the environment. Achieving this vision starts with conversations – bringing all voices to the table to discuss challenges to our global food systems and how we can create tangible, innovative solutions that serve us all. To learn more, visit www.farmjournalfoundation.org.
