Surfacing perspectives on action-oriented research priorities to support a shift toward equitable and sustainable food systems that contribute toward climate action in the next decade.

Agriculture generates an estimated 25% of annual greenhouse gas emissions. Yet healthy, sustainable, and equitable food systems are necessary for food security, and have the potential to play a key role in mitigating and adapting to climate change. This dialogue will bring together a range of stakeholders to surface perspectives on action-oriented research priorities to support a shift toward equitable and sustainable food systems that contribute toward climate action in the next decade.

As COP26 President, the UK has chosen Adaptation & Resilience as a key campaign area and will launch the Adaptation Research Alliance (ARA). The Alliance brings together a spectrum of organizations (funders, researchers, and practitioners) to catalyse increased investment in action-oriented research, at the scale and urgency demanded by the science. The Alliance builds on the United Nations 2019 Call for Action and is intended to provide the pioneering science & technical expertise to inform and underpin the work of the Adaptation Action Coalition.

The International Development Research Centre is a member of the Alliance and is working with its Secretariat to oversee a consultative process to ground the perspective of action-oriented research within a set of themes. The aim is to surface opportunities for cooperation, the barriers to action research, and how the Alliance – and others – can act on these.

This dialogue will surface priorities and recommendations for research related to food systems that can enable climate action.