Rome | In the face of rising hunger and accelerating climate and biodiversity crises, the 300-member agroecology coalition announced an ambitious plan to accelerate the transition to sustainable agroecological food systems by 2030.
“Agroecology is an essential food system approach to tackle the climate, biodiversity, and hunger crises together, and we need it to sustainably feed a growing population and respect nature. We can’t keep avoiding the destruction caused by extensive industrial agriculture,” said Monicah Yator, co-chair of the Agroecology Coalition and Founder of Indigenous Women and Girls Initiative in Kenya.
The Coalition, which brought together pioneering governments, international agencies, scientific groups, and civil society organisations, unveiled its 2024-2030 strategy at an event hosted by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
“Through prioritising sustainability and respect for the fundamental role of biodiversity and living soils, agroecology can build healthier ecosystems even while increasing productivity. The Agroecology Coalition is sending a powerful signal today, with its many members joining forces to boost investments, policies, research, and ability to implement a more integrated approach to food systems,” said President of IFAD, Alvaro Lario.
The EU was also represented at the Strategy launch. “I would like to congratulate the Agroecology Coalition for launching its strategy. With agriculture facing major challenges, agroecological practices can guide farmers all over the world to manage their land in more sustainable ways and increase their resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses.
“The EU, through its policies and funding, is supporting the transformation of agri-food systems to benefit producers, consumers, and nature alike. The Agroecology Coalition is a partner in this respect and we are looking forward to continued and strong cooperation in Europe and globally,” said H.E. Alexandra Valkenburg, Head of the EU Delegation in Rome.
The challenges food systems are facing
Today’s food systems account for one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions and almost 80% of biodiversity loss.
They frequently rely on chemical-dependent monocultures, leaving them extremely vulnerable to shocks. These practices also contribute to deforestation, community displacement, water pollution, and soil degradation.
Many farmers and food system workers, particularly women, Indigenous Peoples, and youth, work in precarious conditions. In other words, today’s food systems are exacerbating poverty and social inequalities while also undermining food security and access to healthy, nutritious diets, with hunger remaining “serious or alarming” in 43 countries, according to the 2023 Global Hunger Index.
The agroecology coalition approach
The Agroecology Coalition’s new strategy aims to accelerate food system transformation.
The Coalition pledges to encourage increased investments in agroecology by encouraging international agencies, governments, philanthropy, public and private funders, and investors to increase their investments in agroecology, both in volume and quality.
Today, overall agroecology funding is on the rise, reaching US$44 billion annually. It is estimated, however, that a tenfold increase in current investment (i.e., US$400 billion) will be required to create the conditions for agroecology to effect transformation in food systems required to address current global challenges.
The Coalition will advocate for and amplify supportive policies, taking advantage of opportunities for collective advocacy in international institutions as well as other global, regional, and national fora and processes, including the three Rio Conventions, the UN Food Systems Stock Take Moment, and the Committee on World Food Security (CFS).
Fair and equitable market access for agroecological farmers and food providers remains a challenge that requires mainstreaming, and consumer awareness of agroecology and its numerous benefits is also low.
For agroecology to take root in food systems, producers and consumers must be better connected. The Coalition will support efforts to develop dynamic local, territorial, national, and regional markets and inclusive business models that improve the livelihoods and influence of agroecological farmers and food system actors.
“Senegal has been one of the founding members of the Agroecology Coalition in 2021 and we are proud of what we have achieved together. In Senegal, we have taken several concrete steps already, but we know that for agroecology to fulfil its bright future, we need to keep advocating jointly in international spaces and inspiring each other: this new strategy will help us.
“This is crucial as it’s not just about growing food, it’s about nurturing our land, our communities, and our future,” said H.E. Ngor Ndiaye, Senegalese Ambassador in Rome.
Background
In 2021, the United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) emphasised the importance of taking immediate action to transform food systems.
In this context, the Agroecology Coalition was formed to bring countries and organisations together to intensify their efforts to transform food systems through agroecology while also addressing multiple crises.
Today, it has around 300 members, including governments and organisations.
Discover more from tndNews, Uganda
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.