In a year of key Conferences of the Parties focused on the dimensions of the environmental crisis, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has shown how agrifood systems transformation can and must play a central role in addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, and food insecurity. FAO has championed a clear and consistent message across global forums: agrifood systems solutions are climate, biodiversity and land solutions.
Climate change exacerbates biodiversity loss and land degradation, impacting agricultural productivity and contributing to food insecurity. Unsustainable agricultural practices, in turn, drive deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and the loss of vital ecosystems. Breaking this vicious cycle requires urgent action. Investing in sustainable and resilient agrifood systems offers a powerful entry point for tackling these challenges in tandem.
This message has been at the core of FAO’ s engagement with key international fora in 2024 such as the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP29), the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16), and the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16), which served as critical platforms for global dialogue and to pen down commitments.
“An alarming 40 percent of the world’s population is highly vulnerable to the climate crisis. Extreme weather events are one of the main drivers of hunger – with more than 730 million people living in hunger, along with food insecurity and malnutrition in all its forms. Resilient agrifood systems and sustainable agricultural practices can offer solutions for the interlinked challenges of food, water, land and biodiversity”, said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu during the 76th UN General Assembly High-level week.
His consistent and coherent message throughout the year was that we need to produce more with less: we need to produce sufficient food to feed a growing population with less agricultural inputs and negative impacts on the environment that in the long run undermine food security and sustainable development. To achieve this, we need to ensure the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life – leaving no one behind.
From the halls of the United Nations to the fields of many of the over 190 member countries it supports through its technical assistance and expertise, FAO has showcased how resilient and sustainable agrifood systems can help us tackle the impacts of the climate crisis, protect biodiversity, and ensure everyone has access to safe and nutritious food. This is one of the core elements of the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31 and central to the implementation of the FAO Strategy and Action Plan on Climate Change.
Integrating agrifood systems into national agendas
FAO recognizes that translating global commitments into national action is crucial for achieving real progress in transforming agrifood systems to make them more sustainable and to adapt to a changing climate and it serves as the go-to organization for the professional expertise needed to do just that.
FAO works closely with countries to integrate resilient and sustainable agriculture and food security into their national plans, including supporting the development and implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for climate action (with an updated round expected by 2025) and National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).
At the same time, FAO works to ensure the sustainable use of biodiversity, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and the integrated sustainable management of land, soil and water are integrated into national agricultural plans and practices. This dual entry point for action ensures that agrifood systems are positioned as a central component of national efforts to achieve sustainability goals.
At COP29 in Azerbaijan, FAO’s active engagement in the World Leaders Summit, high-level events, and in the negotiation rooms helped showcase the critical role of agrifood systems in tackling the climate crisis. FAO spearheaded a comprehensive program and released key publications highlighting the urgent need for increased and targeted investments in agrifood systems to drive sustainable transformation and climate adaptation.
FAO also presented a new analysis of NDCs, revealing food and agriculture gaps in mitigation, adaptation, and financing within national climate action plans, and highlighted that integrating agrifood systems into the next generation of NDCs would be essential for countries to meet the Paris Agreement goals.
At the international meeting, FAO also collaborated with the COP29 Presidency to launch the Baku Harmoniya Climate Initiative for Farmers. This initiative, bolstered by the FAO-led Food and Agriculture for Sustainable Transformation (FAST) Partnership launched in 2022, will serve as a platform for COP to COP coordination of climate action through agrifood systems, and for empowering farmers as agents of climate action. FAO also led discussions at the Food, Agriculture and Water Day, showcasing solutions for financing, innovating and partnering for climate action through agrifood systems.
The Organization remains committed to supporting countries to access climate finance, to develop the next generation of NDCs with high ambition for climate action in agrifood systems and to implement their climate commitments, especially as they prepare for COP30 in Brazil in 2025.
Meanwhile, FAO’s participation at the UN Biodiversity COP16 in Colombia highlighted the crucial role of sustainable use of biodiversity and sustainable agriculture in successfully implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
In this context, FAO launched the Agri-NBSAPs Support Initiative, to provide targeted support to governments across agrifood sectors in order to accelerate the integration of agrifood solutions into biodiversity plans and their implementation and to achieve the KMGBF. FAO also played a vital role in discussions on Indigenous Peoples’ rights related to biodiversity and the use of digital sequence information (DSI) especially for genetic resources for food and agriculture.
In 2025, FAO will host at its headquarters in Rome the resumed session of COP16, which will be an important opportunity to underline the centrality of sustainable use of biodiversity and agriculture, and the need to provide financing and support that reaches rural and agricultural communities that depend on and are custodians of biodiversity.
While there is growing recognition of the importance of agrifood systems transformation for delivering on climate, biodiversity, and land degradation aspirations, plans, and commitments, ultimately it is national actions, supported by finance, technology, and capacity, that are vital for achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the Global Biodiversity Framework. FAO continues to work towards the full recognition of agrifood systems as key solution providers across the Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and their inclusion in national plans.
Financing climate and environment action through agrifood systems transformation
Financing is key to turning these commitments and plans into reality, and FAO is cognizant that significant investment in agriculture is required as it is the window through which to address climate, biodiversity and land degradation challenges and for transforming global agrifood systems. In 2024, the organization actively leveraged its partnerships with key financing mechanisms, including the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), to channel critical resources towards this goal.
FAO has continued supporting countries in developing compelling initiatives and navigating the complexities of international climate and environment finance, ensuring that much-needed investment reaches projects that promote climate-smart agriculture, sustainable land, soil and water management, and biodiversity conservation.
For example, two landmark initiatives showcased by the FAO Director-General at COP29 were the GCF-approved funding for two transformative projects valued at $134 million, to support adaptation and enhance the climate resilience of vulnerable agricultural communities in Somalia and Iraq. These initiatives, spearheaded by FAO will empower millions of farmers and pastoralists to adapt to the escalating impacts of the climate crisis, including droughts, floods, and water scarcity in these two fragile countries.
Since partnering in 2016, FAO and the GCF have been scaling up climate investments in high-impact projects that make the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable. Currently, the GCF portfolio that FAO has supported countries to access exceeds $1.3 billion.
Similarly, on the sidelines of UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, FAO co-launched the Food Systems Integrated Program (FSIP). The program will channel $282 million in GEF financing and an estimated $1.8 billion of co-financing in 32 countries towards global environmental benefits for biodiversity, land, and climate change, along with socioeconomic benefits of improved food security, nutrition, and livelihoods.
Among other highlights, in 2024, FAO also helped 28 countries to unlock $70 million in financing from the GEF to address urban sustainability, groundwater management, biodiversity loss, climate change and land degradation. The Fund also greenlighted 48 FAO-led projects worth about $2.9 billion that will play a pivotal role in fostering a sustainable agrifood systems transformation to end hunger and conserve the environment.
FAO’s active global GEF portfolio currently exceeds USD 1.4 billion, assisting more than 120 countries in projects that respond to local priorities, deliver global environmental benefits, and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Championing a Just Transition
FAO’s Unjust Climate report released in early 2024, called for a just transition to a climate-resilient future that prioritizes equity and inclusivity. The report quantified the disproportionate financial losses rural women face due to the climate crisis, highlighting their increased vulnerability compared to men, and emphasized intersectional impacts and empowerment solutions. This data-driven approach provides a powerful economic and social argument for increased investment in gender-responsive climate policies and programs that address existing inequalities and empower women in agrifood systems.
‘’Social differences based on locations, wealth, gender and age have a powerful, yet poorly understood, impact on rural peoples’ vulnerability to the impacts of the climate crisis. These findings highlight the urgent need to dedicate substantially more financial resources and policy attention to issues of inclusivity and resilience in global and national climate actions,” said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu.
FAO recognizes that the transition to sustainable agrifood systems must be just and inclusive, ensuring that no one is left behind. In 2024, the Organization actively promoted a just transition, emphasizing the importance of social equity and gender equality in shaping the future of food and agriculture. FAOs message clearly echoed in the high-level ministerial discussions on a just transition at COP29.
Showcasing success stories and promoting knowledge-sharing
To emphasize the importance of making commitments and walking the talk to transform agrifood systems, FAO has continued promoting solutions that offer multiple benefits across climate, biodiversity, land, and food security, while fostering rural development. A win-win for both people and the planet.
Throughout 2024, FAO has highlighted inspiring stories from around the world showcasing the tangible benefits of sustainable agrifood practices and emphasizing the crucial role of rural development.
For instance, in Colombia, FAO is championing rural development through various initiatives that contribute to climate mitigation and adaptation goals. These initiatives promote sustainable livelihoods while enhancing carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation through practices like agroforestry and sustainable livestock farming. By integrating trees into agricultural landscapes, farmers improve soil health, diversify their income, and increase their resilience to the climate crisis.
From restoring degraded land in the Amazon to helping farmers battle desertification in Africa, FAO has showcased how many of these solutions are already making a difference in people’s lives and contributing to a more sustainable future. By sharing these successes and promoting knowledge exchange, FAO aims to inspire further action and accelerate the global transition towards sustainable agrifood systems. (All stories here)
Another example of solutions in the nexus of climate and food and agriculture is embedded in the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) programme. In 2024, FAO recognized three new sites in Austria, Indonesia and Sao Tome and Principe. These sites showcase sustainable practices that contribute to climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and food security. By recognizing and preserving these heritage systems that now reach 86 in 26 countries, FAO aims to ensure a sustainable future for agriculture and the planet, safeguarding traditional knowledge and promoting sustainable practices. In 2025, FAO aims to reach 100 sites around the globe.By connecting global goals with local action, mobilizing critical resources, and promoting a just transition, FAO is helping to build a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient world for all. As we move forward, FAO’s continued leadership and collaboration with partners will be crucial in ensuring that agrifood systems play a central role in achieving a sustainable future for people and the planet, and in achieving the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all – leaving no one behind.
