FAO in Review: Transforming agrifood systems in the face of the climate crisis

Figure: Beekeepers in Mafinga, Tanzania, harvest honey using modern methods. ©FAO/Luis Tato

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has made huge strides in pushing for agrifood systems transformation towards more efficiency, inclusivity, resilience, and sustainability in the face of the climate crisis, through coherent and ambitious actions that also tackle global environmental degradation and biodiversity loss.

FAO’s work on climate change is guided by the new FAO Strategy for Climate Change 2022-2031, which aims to support Members to transform to sustainable, climate-resilient and low-emission agrifood systems while striving to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Agrifood systems transformation is at the core of climate action. This is the message that FAO brought to the UN Climate Conference (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. FAO’s delegation leveraged the full potential of the new Strategy, calling for increased resources and partnerships to put agrifood systems transformation into action, and strengthening not only global and regional climate policies and governance, but also developing country-specific capacities to scale-up climate action on the ground.

The COP27 Presidency in partnership with FAO launched the Food and Agriculture Sustainable Transformation Initiative (FAST) to enhance Members’ capacities to identify and access climate finance and investment giving greater access to knowledge and providing support in crafting appropriate climate action policies. With support from FAO, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other UN agencies, the COP27 Presidency also presented the Initiative on Climate Action and Nutrition (I-CAN).

“FAO’s engagement at COP27 firmly positioned the Organization as a key player in all major negotiations, debates and high-level events amplifying the role of agrifood systems transformation as a key driver to concrete, sustainable, inclusive and resilient solutions to the climate change crisis,” said Maria Helena Semedo, FAO Deputy Director-General who led FAO’s delegation. “FAO built and enhanced strategic partnerships, capitalizing on our new Climate Change Strategy to provide greater support on the ground and to our Members in promoting resilient and green climate action needed to transform their agrifood systems,” she added.

Green Climate Fund and Global Environmental Facility

FAO has ramped up its support to Members in accessing climate and environment finance through the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF). 

Since 2016 FAO has successfully partnered with the GCF to help countries, particularly those most vulnerable to climate change, to transition towards climate-resilient, low-emission agrifood systems. Today with a portfolio of over $1 billion, FAO is currently leading 17 high-impact projects across the globe and has catalysed public and private sector investments across the agricultural sectors.

With 230 projects in 124 countries, FAO is a go-to partner agency for the GEF, supporting countries worldwide in addressing the complex challenges at the nexus of environment, agriculture, forestry, marine and freshwater resources. The eighth GEF replenishment cycle (GEF-8), from July 2022 to 2026, will offer greater opportunities for collaboration and impact, leveraging FAO’s extensive technical expertise, strong field presence and in-country alliances, including through a newly-announced global $230 million food systems integrated programme and a regional Indo-Malaya critical forest biomes integrated programme. 

Since 2019, FAO has more than doubled its GEF and GCF portfolios, enabling countries to mobilize more than $6 billion in nearly 130 countries.

See more: https://www.fao.org/director-general/news/2022/transforming-agrifood-systems-in-the-face-of-the-climate-crisis/en/