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Farmers Issues and information needed : In general, all representatives reported facing farming and cocoa productivity issues related to climate change, specifically, they stressed out that strong weather fluctuations, prolonged droughts or heavy rainfall greatly affect production of cocoa. In most cases, important issues are pest related, as they perceive outbreaks being more common under these weather fluctuation conditions. Most representatives are already establishing mitigation strategies to improve farm resilience to climate change, being crop diversification, soil protection, integrated... Read more pest control, and organic fertilizers the most commonly discussed. However, representatives mention the lack of financial support (such as credits), or difficulties to access them, from funders and governments to invest in climate-related mitigation. Read less

Communication and knowledge exchange using Technology: During the dialogue we were able to observe that representatives shared similar views on the channels to reach farming information, being messaging apps, internet and non-government association the most common. Most representatives agreed that having access to the internet, most commonly through mobile phone data-services, was helpful to communicate between farmers, associations and share relevant information facilitating their farming activities. Representatives shared their interest in having direct contact with other stakeholders, such ... Read moreas government, industry and researchers, while they agreed that most communication channels are difficult to access or not existing, generating dependance to others (e.g. middle man in case to commercialize their cocoa to industry, or lack of knowledge of government financial support). Representatives showed interest in also creating communication bridges between farmers of other cultures and countries, being the language barrier the only limitation. Read less

In general, representatives agree in sharing similar views related to the information, knowledge and communication challenges they are currently using, being the internet the most important tool. According to representatives, one of the major challenges for smallholders lies in creating communication bridges to government, industry and researchers. They argued the need to promote communication to other stakeholders, in particular for reaching scientific based information (researcher stakeholder), financial support (government stakeholder), and better selling prices for their cocoa (industry). ... Read moreRepresentatives also show interest in having communication with other farmers from different cultures and countries, but the language barrier remains the main limitation. Overall, representatives agreed on sharing the same farming and production problems related to climate change, in particular strong weather fluctuations heavily affecting production as pest and disease outbreaks proliferate. Major actions need to be taken, and many representatives provided several agroecological management examples ongoing within the farmers representing, but financial supports, extension services are strongly needed. Read less

In this dialogue, we convened cocoa farmers representatives in Southern Bahia, Brazil as the region remains the top producer of cocoa in the country. Our overall objective was to determine the most effective way to contact the farmers and to disseminate the knowledge they need for improving their livelihoods. We also facilitated a dialogue to understand smallholder farmers issues related to climate change on crop management, yields, and livelihoods, along with the knowledge needed to solve these issues and ensure that the knowledge disseminated by scientists match to their needs. Therefore, we... Read more divided the dialogue into two parts: 1) Communication and knowledge exchange using technology: Here, we aimed to understand the most effective way to contact the farmers and to disseminate the knowledge they need to improve their livelihoods as identified below. We also discussed the potential communication and knowledge transfer between farmers. 2) Farmers Issues and information needed: Here, participants discussed the main issues related to climate impacts on crop production and livelihoods. This information will then be used to formulate knowledge requirements that will help them to tackle their most pressing issues. Read less

1. Areas of divergence were mostly related to the balance of attention to the various levers for change. Individuals were more, or less, passionate about particular approaches depending on their institutional affiliations, experiences, and perspectives. For example, private sector executives addressed opportunities where they could contribute most significantly, like workforce nutrition; and people who worked most closely with farmers emphasized the threats to livelihoods and remedies for economic development. This was in fact the value of having people from diverse sectors present concerns an... Read mored potential solutions from their respective perspectives. Throughout, however, participants adhered to the summit principles of engagement, including recognizing complexity, embracing multi-stakeholder inclusivity, complementing the work of others, and building trust. The in-person nature of the Dialogue helped to foster respect among participants. 2. Another area of divergence related to the feasibility of coordination among such large sectors and institutions - from the private sector, to small holder farmers, NGOs, and regional governments. This concern led to meaningful discussions of ways to overcome the challenges to align efforts. Read less

Discussion Topic, Group 5: Resilience By 2030, 100 million farmers have adopted regenerative agriculture practices, supported by 1 billion consumers who demand and support products coming from regenerative agriculture. This approach improved production, resilience, and provided livelihood opportunities. This discussion was facilitated by Ben Valk, Rabobank and Gail Whiteman, Artic Basecamp. ACTIONS 1. Promote regenerative agriculture as an opportunity to equip farmers to absorb and recover from shocks and stresses to their agricultural production and livelihoods (short term and long term, pred... Read moreictable or non-predictable shocks). 2. Increase farmer adoption of regenerative management practices, given the growing challenges of malnutrition, poverty, climate change, and biodiversity loss. Adoption is low, as farmers often have limited access to information about new technology and what it means for them. Such practices have the potential to deliver a larger diversity of plants and animals to a growing population without degrading the functional integrity of ecosystems while meeting the nutritional needs of current and future generations. 3. Position agriculture and food systems as a large-scale solution provider of environmental benefits, while supporting livelihoods. This includes farming methods moving beyond resource efficiency and into ecological restoration through practices such as conservation tillage, cover cropping and rotations, agroforestry and other forms of diversification, mobile animal shelters and pasture cropping, farmer-managed natural regeneration, integrated pest management, precision nutrient management, and various soil and water management techniques that minimize the loss of soil structure and biodiversity and maximize its capacity to recycle nutrients and store water and carbon. These practices also minimize mechanical, chemical, and biological activities that can damage long-term soil health and produce negative offsite effects. BUILD PARTNERSHIPS 1. With private sector investment is vital. 2. With farmer organizations and associations. 3. With research institutions and NGOs. Read less

Discussion Topic, Group 4: Gender By 2030, female farmers in agriculture are empowered and equipped with the skills to work sustainably, helping to better support entire communities. This discussion was facilitated by Lisa Moon, Global FoodBanking Network, and Vanessa Adams, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). ACTIONS 1. Ensure equitable roles, responsibilities, opportunities, and choices, and that in countries, communities and households, individuals are equipped to participate in local, global, and regional food systems activities in a meaningful, dignified, and equitable way. ... Read more2. Focus on four levers of gender equality and empowerment: a. Expand women’s agency. b. Increase access and rights to resources, services, and opportunities. c. Eliminate systemic, institutional, and legislative biases against women. d. Shift harmful and constraining gender norms. 3. Provide women with access to finance. 4. Build women’s agency, increasing access and rights to resources and addressing the policy, institutional, and legislative barriers as well as shifting harmful norms. BUILD PARTNERSHIPS 1. With private sector, to play a role in investing in digital infrastructure. 2. Between women and agribusiness leadership networks. 3. With men, as influencers to drive change. 4. With international organizations, NGOs, private sector, and academia working in sub-coalitions to advance: • The Global Food Systems 50/50 Initiative • The integration of gender transformative approaches (GTAs) in relevant policies, programs, and systems. • The establishment of a Global Data Hub to make food systems data and available on one platform • Anemia Alliance 5. With Canada, France, USA, Finland Sweden, FAO, IFAD, SEWA, IFPRI, CARE, among others. Read less

Discussion Topic, Group 3: Innovation By 2030, more than half of investment in agricultural innovation provides end-to-end solutions that support the SDGs related to food, climate, and environment. This discussion was facilitated by Tania Strauss, World Economic Forum and Herman Betten, DSM. ACTIONS 1. Create more inclusive ecosystems with solutions such as urban farming, hydroponic farming, and community gardens. 2. Incentivize farmers to work on regenerative agriculture. 3. Increase yield and nutritional value of food with food fortification and technology in business models and measure and ... Read moredemonstrate the value of food fortification to society. 4. Leverage biotechnology from the private sector and disseminate knowledge. BUILD PARTNERSHIPS 1. Engage all stakeholders that make up an enabling environment for a thriving system. 2. Involve actors beyond the food value chain, such as: • Insurance, financial services including (digital) payment, technology and digitalization • Consumer marketing to increase demand for nutritious products • Education and training • Government engagement and public policy Read less

Discussion Topic, Group 2: Nature By 2030, nature-based solutions are adopted across the world by farmers through appropriate rewards. This discussion was facilitated by Giulia Carbone, World Business Council for Sustainable Development. ACTIONS 1. Mainstream innovation in the agricultural sector that will be instrumental to farmers’ knowledge and needs 2. Make innovation farmer driven, based on their needs and knowledge for their benefit and the benefit of their natural ecosystems 3. Provide financing for farmers for maintaining and repairing soil. 4. Focus on smallholder farmers as well as... Read more large farmers. 5. Make biodiversity an asset class and ensure funding. 6. Use data and tech to help scale up payments for ecosystems services. 7. Customize parameters and criteria for farmers’ access to credit and insurance with specific standards that may differ from those applied to other sectors. It is crucial that innovative financing models consider the timing of the agricultural cycle. 8. Map land according to productivity to help low productivity farmers shift to other products or ecosystems services. 9. Incorporate into the price of food the true costs to nature. BUILD PARTNERSHIPS 1. With farmer’s organizations to help close the gap between farmers and the scientific and private sectors – they can act as catalysts to meet farmer’s requirements and needs and act as in intermediary between farmers and the public and private sector by providing advisory services, innovation brokerage, and training to farmers to increase awareness and boost the adoption of innovations. 2. With banks, for capturing investors on biodiversity. 3. With investors, for providing patient capital for biodiversity over the longer term. 4. With consumer groups, to manage demand with a better understanding of the seasonality of crops. Read less

Discussion Topic, Group 1: Nutrition By 2030, workforce nutrition is improved to millions of workers in the food and agriculture value chains. This discussion was facilitated by Rebecca Marmot, Unilever. ACTIONS 1. Use the workplace and supply chain as entry points to directly reach millions of workers and farmers across the food and agriculture value chains, as people spend more than one third of their lives at work. Investment in workforce nutrition remains a relatively untapped platform to tackle malnutrition. 2. Support the nutrition of workers and farmers through programs that increase ac... Read morecess to and knowledge of good nutrition practices. Best practices from companies show that it is necessary to: • Use the WNA Scorecard to conduct a self-assessment exercise that will help them understand where they can improve their programs, set SMART goals and build a clear and comprehensive strategy to achieve them. • Seek partnerships to exchange best practices and make this happen. • Dare to connect with external organizations who can help them on their way. • Include and empower ambassadors for their workforce nutrition program who can hear and vocalize the needs from workers on the ground. • Recognize that employees are also consumers. To get inspiration from the frontrunners in the field, interested organizations are welcome to check out the Workforce Nutrition Case Study Booklet published by WNA. BUILD PARTNERSHIPS 1. With the private sector, especially those bold, who support workforce nutrition by investing in programs that work from their organizations through their supply chains. Workforce nutrition is an essential tool that delivers proven benefits for employers, workers, and communities. 2. With the Workforce Nutrition Alliance that was launched by The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) in October 2019. The workplace is an opportunity to provide healthier diets for millions of workers and farmers. The Alliance is working to bring access to and knowledge about healthy nutrition to over three million employees in organizations and supply chains by 2025 and over ten million by 2030 worldwide. The Alliance has developed publicly available and user-friendly tools and resources to help employers develop impactful workforce nutrition programs to employees and indirect workers throughout their operations and supply chains. Read less

ACTIONS 1. Engage the private sector to ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all through workforce nutrition programs, encourage financial investments in research and innovation to advance finance innovation and technology, incentivize farmers for maintaining and repairing soil, address the needs of smallholder farmers, use data and technology to scale up payments for ecosystems services, and incorporate the price of food into the true costs to nature. 2. Focus on smallholder farmers who are at the frontline of catastrophic impacts of climate change, nature loss, deepening poverty, an... Read mored a widening inequality gap – and are bearing disproportionate costs compared to other food systems actors. 3. Address gender inequities. As a result of unequal food systems, women are more vulnerable to shock induced food insecurity. Increasing women’s access and rights to resources and addressing the policy, institutional and legislative barriers as well as shifting harmful norms can enable equality, resulting in greater food security and better nutrition. 4. Unlock the widespread adoption of regenerative management practices, given the growing and interwoven challenges of malnutrition, poverty, climate change, and biodiversity loss. Such practices have the potential to deliver a larger diversity of plants and animals to a growing population without degrading the functional integrity of ecosystems while meeting the nutritional needs of current and future generations. BUILD PARTNERSHIPS 1. Between NGOs, the private sector, research institutions, and farmers. 2. With women. 3. With farmers associations. 4. With consumers. 5. With the private sector, to bring innovation, digital technology, finance, and insurance products to farmers, especially smallholder farmers. 6. With governments, legislators, and policymakers to address gender inequities. Read less