Explore Official Dialogue Feedback

(i) The environmental value of diversification in agricultural production: • A multi- and interdisciplinary research approach is essential for a nuanced understanding of the agri-food system. • Indigenous local vegetables are less demanding in resources when compared to staple crops. • Local agri-biodiversity should be promoted as it improves ecosystem services, such as pollination. • Indigenous local vegetables and staple crops can effectively be utilized and farmed together but synthetic pesticides associated with staple crops have negative impacts on the biodiversity, although this ... Read morecan be avoided or mitigated through the use of natural pesticides. • African indigenous vegetables are predominately cultivated for self or family consumption in urban areas while market demand drives the dominance of staple crops in rural areas. A majority of farmers use natural and traditional practices, but larger farms have increasingly employed intensive farming practices. • Pollinators’ richness decreases as landscape increases intensity due to urbanization and large-scale commercial farming. • The practice of breeding for uniformity has led to a spread of monoculture farming. There is a need to address this and establish farmer-orientated agricultural systems, particularly in relation to seed selection. Seed breeding for diversity needs to be promoted. (ii) Health and the nutrition challenges: • Biodiversity within the agri-food system needs to be approached through a health and nutritional framing. • Malnutrition, especially amongst children in East Africa, is still extremely high and urgently needs to be addressed. African indigenous vegetables can play a key role. • Only 16 percent of the sample consumed a portion of African indigenous vegetables. There was a higher consumption of indigenous vegetables observed in urban areas when compared to rural areas. • Empowering women through education can enhance their own health but can also have a positive feedback in the health of their offspring. This education can also reduce several forms of inequalities faced by women including gender, health, social, and economic inequalities. • Policy exchange of experiences between different actors is extremely beneficial. (iii) The small-farmer as a driver of sustainability through rural-urban linkages in agri-food production and supply chain: • In Kenya and Tanzania, there is a large range of farmer typology, varying with size of land and levels of commercialization. Income diversification and precarity leads to migration to urban centers and strengthening of rural-urban linkages. Created indexes for sustainable farming practices and waste management. • Social organizations are common and play a key role in helping small farmers. They are associated with risk and profit sharing, improved access to credit and capital, improved income security, and increased access to education and training. • Diversification of production and marketing channels needs to be recognized as important driver of economic development and biodiversity preservation. • The conventional food system is in crisis – disconnected from the environment, society, and material realities of small farmers. There needs to be new business models and governance structures to reconnect producers and consumers. • It was noted that it is not appropriate to use European categorisations of producers and consumers in the African context. Read less

The outcomes from the environmental value of diversification in agricultural production topic included: • A four-step food systems approach should be utilized for a holistic understanding and improvement of food systems: firstly a food system analysis, followed by sustainability analysis, and then a look at the political economy of the system; all of which iteratively aimed at designing -with local stakeholders- realistic and context-based pathways towards more sustainability. • Researchers need to focus and undertake studies on indigenous crops with a view to improving and developing the ... Read moresustainability of local food systems, including via in-situ experiments on the resilience of the vegetables. • Value chain specific multi-stakeholder platforms should be established in order to build consensus and strengthen coordination and governance along the whole chain. • There is a need to subsidize the distribution of indigenous vegetable seeds to promote biodiversity. • Quotas for indigenous vegetables and smallholders should be introduced in public procurement schemes. • Pollinator-friendly practices and policies are needed to mitigate the impact of agricultural intensification and urbanization. • Dietary diversity is essential for tackling both malnutrition and over-nutrition and for this diversification, indigenous vegetables will (and already are in the case of Kenya and Tanzania) play a central role. • It is incumbent to progress towards a decentralized agri-food system where the farmer can play a participatory role in diversification. • Biodiversity conservation and diversification within the agri-food system should be approached through a health and nutritional framing. • Europe and Africa can mutually learn from their experiences: alongside cooperation projects between Europe and Africa, there needs to be a transformation and diversification within the food systems in Europe as well Read less

The Dialogue was titled ‘Neglected Species, sustainable food systems: experiences from Africa & lessons for research methods’ and its overarching theme was how to improve the sustainability of food systems through diversification using African indigenous vegetables as a case study and an exemplar of the opportunities/challenges for economic/social/environmental sustainability of the wider agri-food systems. After a short introduction and framing session, the Dialogue had three major focuses: (i) The environmental value of diversification in agricultural production: This focused on rese... Read morearch findings from the SASS project about three local agri-food systems in Kenya and Tanzania (ecdpm.org/sass). This focus area endeavored to shine light on whether this diversification of agricultural production, and specifically the better integration of African indigenous vegetables, can increase the environmental sustainability of agri-food systems in East Africa. (ii) Health and nutrition challenges: This focused on social sustainability and predominantly human health. There was a specific attention on women, as they are considered vulnerable within society but also, they play a central position within the food system as nutritional agents through their role as a pillar within the household. (iii) The small-farmer as a driver of sustainability through rural-urban linkages in agri-food production and supply chain: This focused on the role of small farmers for improving economic sustainability and other sustainable development practices. Read less

The Dialogue’s speakers underlined the complexity and the multi-dimensional aspects of food systems transformation and called for urgency actions to make food systems more efficient, resilient, sustainable, and inclusive. The following findings and conclusions emerged out of the discussions: • Science, Technologies and Innovation (STI) have a great potential for food production and climate change, yet they need to be adapted to the needs of small-scale producers, provide the combination of incentives to accelerate the adoption, investments in rural infrastructure and capacity building to b... Read moreridge the inequality gap. Global scale scientific assessments need to be translated into actionable knowledge at national and local scale. • Global coordination, partnership, and cooperation with the coalitions of actors ready to support the change, global events, and multilateralism are of paramount importance to build a common narrative and drive forward the transformative agenda. • The question of how to operate the transformation underlined the importance of co-creation and joint design of knowledge; • The EU High-Level Expert Group put in place by the European Commission is an important mechanism and one of the deliverables of the European Green Deal. The works of the Group will also contribute to the UNFSS. • An efficient transformation of food systems implies policies to be based on high-quality and multi-disciplinary science, while an efficient evidence and policymaking need scientific excellence and good understanding of policy cycle combined with an ability to communicate scientific evidence in a clear and digestible way; • There is a need to incorporate local-based solutions and local practices, consider interconnectivity between various actors and sectors in food chain. • For an efficient food systems transformation, we need to address data gaps about food systems, new methodology to integrate all the data and enhanced metrics to assess the progress towards food systems transformation. These three areas of work should be complemented with performance-based governance and link between policies and citizens. • Real-time data are key to take effective decisions and bring solutions, while technologies are helpful to identify best solutions for best policies. This needs to be complemented with an analysis of different trade-offs including social, environmental and economic. • The JRC works across four work streams in its science approach: (1) Models, integrated agricultural commodity and policy modelling platform allows JRC to model the situations and test policies; (2) Observations (i.e. soil) to test scientific approach to the collection process; (3) Combination of two – agricultural yield forecasting programme which combines the real time satellite imagery with the agricultural production modelling to identify the hotspots of change; (4) Standards and benchmarks. JRC has a very strong digital dimension with geospatial data, satellite science sharing and co-creation. JRC has also knowledge centres operating as science hubs for various topics, such as global food and nutrition security; • An efficient science-policy interface should take into account four different pre-conditions: investments, institutional arrangements, enabling environment and capacity-building, both institutional and know how. • Small-scale farmers are facing numerous challenges ranging from lack of appropriate knowledge and know-how, access to markets, equipment, financing, insurance, lack of agronomic practices. There is a need of a holistic approach to address the fragmentation of farmers, while farmers should be at the centre of all policies and interventions. They need to be the co-creators of knowledge and co-makers of decisions concerning them. • Cross-fertilization between the scientists and different actors through a multi-actor approach, including farmers, civil society, education, governance is needed; • Focus should be on the needs of farmers and bottom up and local solutions, while investing in transparency and traceability of food chains; • Mitigating climate change only will not be enough we need localized, regional scale adaptation strategies and science and technologies can help; • To see is to believe: farmers need to be co-researchers, co-creators, as they can conduct experiments on farms and inform policy-making with practical solutions and evidence. Important to create connection between farmers and research institutions, farmers need to be part of the whole research cycle. • Soil is the missing link in the food system transformation and we need a robust policy framework to create coherence and better manage soils. There is a need to set up globally a minimum set of standards for soil protection; important to learn and exchange views with other countries and regions. Read less

Food systems governance: We have food systems, but we need to address their dysfunctionalities. We should not reinvent the wheel, but rather take stock, fix, enhance and consolidate instruments, dialogue spaces, and mechanisms for an efficient food systems regulation and governance. The EU High-level expert group established for this purpose is ensuring this thorough analysis and will be advancing solutions and recommendations that can be considered in the UNFSS works. Co-creation/co-design: Co-creation, partnership, and co-design approach considering all forms of knowledge such as scientific ... Read moreand experiential knowledge should be integrated together to produce better and sustainable results. Need to involve farmers and small-scale producers: Farmers are the repositories of important evidence-based knowledge, as they have the possibility to test, experiment and try new technologies on farms. This evidence should be underpinned by cooperation with research institutions and governments in order to inform both, scientific ad policy uptake. Farmers need to be part of the whole research and policy-making cycle. There should be incentives, capacity-building, enabling environment, governance, and infrastructure as pre-requisite elements for farmer’s empowerment. Need for tangible data, methodologies and metrics: Tangible commitment by the agricultural sector and all stakeholders for transformative and nature positive solutions should be driven by facts, scientific evidence and market demands. Data, technologies, innovations and complements (governance, human development) should underpin the process. Need to address interconnectivity: A big challenge science will face, will be the implementation of jointed models since we no longer deal with individual issues but an interaction of numerous issues and challenges, such as environmental degradation, climate change, hunger and inequities. Coordinated collection and use of enormous data sets will be key in achieving the expected results from the use of joint models. Need to make soils and biodiversity central in the process: Soil is the missing link in the food system transformation and we need a robust policy framework to create coherence and better manage soils. There is a need to set up globally a minimum set of standards for soil protection; important to learn and exchange views with other countries and regions. Read less

No divergence recorded

The FAO Brussels Dialogue that saw high-level speakers from various organizations delivering keynote addresses and involved in panel discussions had the following focus: • The need to bring forward the importance of science for efficient policymaking in the food systems transformation process, highlighting the role of the UNFSS Scientific Groups and the Science Days that preceded the dialogue. Value and consideration of the expertise of the Joint Research Centre and other Directorates-Generals of the European Commission (INTPA, RTD, AGRI) for strengthening research, innovation, scientific ev... Read moreidence, and the uptake of science by policymakers within the EU, and its potential to contribute to the global scientific capacity-building and partnerships to sustainably transform food systems, as highlighted in the European Green Deal and its pillar strategies (Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies); • The Dialogue focused on exploring the potential of the science-policy interface to achieving the objectives of action track 1: Ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all and action track 3: Boost nature-positive production. In the first panel discussion on the science-policy interface and the action track 1 focused on how science-policy linkages can help fight hunger and ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all, highlighting the need for an international platform for food systems that would go beyond the UNFSS to ensure an effective food systems governance; • The need for new tools, approaches, and practices that would drive food systems transformation while proposing alternative strategies to produce more with less, address structural issues, and support small-scale producers for sustainability was equally reiterated; • The geographic focus on Africa and Asia enabled the audience to better understand the challenges of small-scale farmers, how existing policy frameworks, the role of the governments, the international community, and the private sector contribute to building systemic science capacity at national and regional levels. The session also stressed the need to enhance the support provided to agricultural farmers, producers, entrepreneurs, and small-holders, especially women and youths to sustainably transform agri-food systems; • The second panel put the emphasis on how science-policy dialogue can help reconcile agricultural productivity with environmental sustainability to minimize trade-offs for the environment. How science, technology, and innovation would contribute to the conservation of biodiversity, translating to innovation that focuses on sustainability and productivity as mutually inclusive issues were highlighted. In addition, the approaches made by the EU to bridge the gap between research and farming practices, advance research and innovation in developing countries to sustainably transform food systems were of major interest; • Furthermore, the prospective solutions of the private sector to ensure sufficient and healthy food for all while preserving biodiversity and ecosystems were highlighted while outlining that government/international support is needed to foster an enabling environment for private sector investments in agricultural research and innovation. Read less

The main findings from the four facilitated breakout discussions were as follows: Alignment exists between both farmers and industry on the need to balance risk and profitability when it comes to implementation of climate-smart practices. Proof of success and a need for rewards and recognition along the entire supply chain are valuable components for farmers and industry to assess potential profit. The industry breakout groups discussed that the issue of climate-smart implementation is not just an economic issue, but also an existential issue, because they acknowledge the desire from their con... Read moresumers to become more aware and active in the GHG reduction space. Another finding expressed was a desire for a farmer-led system that connects researchers to farmers. Scientists often need farmers to participate in trials and demonstrations in order to produce the proof of success that farmers need. However, there is a disconnect in the system where farmers don’t know how to get involved, and scientists don’t know how to reach out. A clear need exists to facilitate these types of conversations. During the report out, it was noted that industry groups and private sector networks could assist with the execution of creating these engagement channels for farmers and researchers Read less

Topic: Research and data Data is critical to the success of any climate-smart farming practice, and generating that data requires expansive research, both on and off the farm. Ensuring comprehensive representation of farm types, while identifying learnings from past research and data trials in other regions can be difficult and disconnected. An opportunity identified is matching farmers who are willing to be involved in trials with projects to coordinators on a larger scale. Farmers can be incentivized to participate in trials, similar to how the medical community rewards patient trial partici... Read morepants. Understanding gaps in current data to further support adoption must happen quickly. This includes documenting the risks and costs of a new practice at a comprehensive level (new equipment, additional labor, etc.). This will help clearly communicate the value of practices back to farmers – data, results, financial gain – and create opportunities for farmers to be paid for their data, what many believe is the most valuable commodity on a farm. Read less

Topic: Data interoperability As data collection efforts begin to expand, the next step is creating a centralized and easily accessible depository to make data available to everyone. Many organizations are attacking this problem and contributing to solutions, but there is no central coordination strategy, resulting in continued fragmentation. While identifying all existing data is important, the results must be fully interoperable, democratized and supported by public policy and governance, ultimately contributing to long-term access to stakeholders. Barriers to success around data operability ... Read moreinclude the enormity of the effort and that much of the data from existing research is currently too narrow in scope to address opportunities holistically. Universal availability will broaden the scope and efficacy of practices and systems in overcoming growing climate challenges. Read less

Topic: Measuring and maximizing results Success in reducing GHGs depends on how to measure the efficacy of climate-smart, on-farm practices. This requires a wholesale infrastructure approach that will identify effective practices to optimize and integrate on large scales. This may require outcome-based reporting tools that document what farmers and ranchers are doing to reduce GHGs, and also the production efficiency and economic impacts to an individual (but anonymous) farm or ranch.

Topic: Collaborate effectively While collaboration exists in agriculture and agriculture sustainability efforts, it tends to be regional or otherwise limited. No initiative to date has bridged geographies, crops and animals, production methods and other variances to realize the full value of existing and future collaboration within the global entirety of agriculture. There is a need to unify and connect efforts to prevent fragmentation or duplications while filling data gaps, maximizing resources and accelerating progress. To accomplish this, engaging farmer peer networks will be crucial, as w... Read moreell as connecting with farmer and rancher advisors. The focus of these efforts is to demonstrate transparency, build trust and drive effective outcomes. Read less

Topic: Incentivizing adoption There are many public and private efforts to incentivize certain climate-smart practices. There are likely resources on the table that can be shifted to support this collaboration. There is a way to get costs covered by the whole system; without that, it will be difficult for private sectors to adequately address incentives for farmers.

Topic: Rapid-scale adoption The adoption of climate-smart farming practices is also about building high-quality, comprehensive datasets that can help drive adoption by connecting them to the most economically viable practices and systems on every farm. Through research and pilot projects, data can be applied industry-wide to specific practices and systems that will also generate new revenue for farmers and other key stakeholders. Currently, there is no platform or forum to provide expansive training on climate-smart practices to farmers. The need is even larger in developing countries and brid... Read moreging that gap is critical for climate-smart ag production practices to become normalized globally. Read less

N/A

The focus of the FFAR sponsored dialogue held on June 17, 2021, titled “Transformative Collaboration in Agriculture” examined both the links between Action tracks 3, 4, and 5 and levers of change. The objective of this Dialogue was to hold space for a conversation bringing together farmers, ranchers, research organizations, industries and NGOs to discuss the transformative collaboration needed to develop coordinated, collaborative strategies that reduce GHG emissions in the agriculture sector, ultimately to net negative. Through a series of breakout discussions, the goal was to engage farm... Read moreers, ranchers and scientists in a candid conversation about what they feel a successful relationship can look like to accelerate adoption of climate-smart farming practices. Climate change is a threat to food security worldwide. While advances to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are happening in labs and fields around the globe, that work is fragmented, and the impacts continue to accelerate. Without an expansive, coordinated effort, we can’t connect knowledge and data from one part of the world that could benefit another. By creating an expansive, coordinated response, we can maximize knowledge, investment and scalability. That’s why FFAR, USFRA and WFO established AgMission, a partnership to mobilize farmers, ranchers, scientists, data providers, stakeholders and funders around the globe to develop, implement and accelerate climate-smart farming practices at scales previously unimagined. By working together, we can close the gaps in agriculture-climate research and data integration while accelerating the development and adoption of new and proven on-farm climate solutions. In pursuit of this goal, FFAR convened an Independent Dialogue on June 17, 2021 titled “Transformative Collaboration in Agriculture” to bring together farmers, ranchers, research organizations, industries and NGOs to discuss the transformative collaboration needed to develop coordinated, collaborative strategies that reduce GHG emissions in the agriculture sector, ultimately to net negative. The main objective of the event was to discuss and develop coordinated and collaborative strategies to reduce GHG emissions in the agriculture sector that will support a more equitable and sustainable food system. Through multiple small breakout group discussions, FFAR and partners focused on defining the research gaps, data and support needed to achieve transformative collaboration among farmers, ranchers, scientists, industries and NGOs to accelerate adoption of climate-smart farming practices. Read less

Consequently, the Summit must urgently recognize the need and call for a supportive political will from national leaders open and transparent participation mechanisms for right-holders in all stages of policy making, implementation and monitoring of the food systems. Strong accountability and transparent mechanisms for all actors, from government bodies to the food industry should be in place in order to move away from the production model to a Production, Income and Nutrition Model

Transition to Sustainable Food Systems for Social, Ecological, Economic & Democratic Development  Food choices are often considered as personal choices. But choice is instead determined by many factors and can be conscious, conditioned or constrained. Even if one has high nutrition literacy, the lack of local availability or the inaccessibility, due to high price, of healthy foods may prevent an individual from adopting healthy dietary habits. Hence, a transition to Sustainable Food Systems should have at their centre the full realization of the human right to adequate food, where by ev... Read moreery individual and every community should be enabled to have adequate, accessible, nutritious, culturally adequate, healthy and environment-friendly food at all times. This requires putting right-holders at the centre, rather than the interests of the market. Read less

Policy Change to Unlock the Potential of a Resilient Small-Scale Agriculture Sector  There is a need for a policy with an emphasis on payments for ecosystem services instead of subsidies for synthetic inputs and hybrid seeds. Need to move away from Farmer Input Support Programme for commitment to sustainable subsidies that enhance local markets.  Integrated seed system laws endorsing local traditions and knowledge, rather than outlawing the use and sale of traditional varieties and breeds.  Climate change adaptation funds are to be used on agroecology principles rather than the “new... Read more” green revolution which does not respond to the desired needs of the vulnerable farmers.  Inclusive land rights giving priority to local youth and traditional community ownership rather than legislations that enable corporate land grabbing.  Public procurements schemes create a market and demand for organically produced diverse diets rather than highly processed food.  The drastic increase in funding for research with a focus on agroecological transdisciplinary and systemic approaches rather than research focussing on single crops or inputs. Read less

Civil society dialogues were organized around the main three action tracks that were used in the Mongolian Member State Dialogues, which are: 1) Ensure access to safe and nutritious food for the population and promote sustainable consumption; 2) Advance equitable livelihoods and wealth distribution; 3) Boost nature-positive production and build resilience to vulnerability, shocks and stress. The participants were invited to share their views and ideas on each area of discussion during the break-out rooms with the following set of questions for each thematic area. Thematic are I: Ensure access ... Read moreto safe and nutritious food for the population and promote sustainable consumption I. At present: 1. Does Mongolia’s food system enable all people to access sustainably produced healthy and nutritious food? If does not, what are the incentives and solutions ? It also includes imported of foods. 2. What are the main challenges to food security due to the Covid-19 epidemic and opportunities to overcome? II – In 10 years ahead: 1. Where would you like to see Mongolia in ten years from now in terms of food security, nutrition, health and loss of food ? 2. What do we want in terms of health and nutrition; the well-being of women and children? III – In the 3 years ahead: 1. What must Mongolia do in the coming three years for food systems to meet the expectations? 2. What actions need to be taking to reduce wasteful and over-consuming habits and to increase knowledge and awareness for healthy diet and sustainable food consumption? IV – In the Future: 1. How can stakeholders work well together for collective action in pursuit of these objectives? 2. How do we facilitate practices and policy choices that contribute to sustainable food systems? Thematic area II: Advance equitable livelihoods and wealth distribution At Present 1. How can Mongolia shape its agriculture and food sector in a way that contributes to job creation and raises incomes across the food value chain? In 10 years ahead: 1. Where would you like to see Mongolia in ten years from now in terms of job creation, poverty levels, food security and etc? In the 3 years ahead: 1. How to leverage young people for championing the innovative, game-changing movements towards promoting decent jobs and equitable livelihoods for all? In the Future: 1. How can stakeholders work well together for collective action in pursuit of these objectives? 2. Who might support the change, who might oppose it and who might deserve the benefit of them? Back Up Questions a) What sub-sectors (e.g. livestock, other) in the agriculture food sector are the most potential to bring equitable livelihoods? How can be ensured that the growth in the food systems sector is sustainable from an environmental perspective? b) How can CSOs and other stakeholders contribute to introduce green business practices/circular economy practices in the food systems? c) What can be done to create a more conducive business environment for MSMEs and other market actors to invest in sustainable practices in agriculture and food sector? d) What is the role of digitalization in bringing about equitable livelihoods and more inclusive value chains in the agriculture and food systems sector? Thematic area III: Boost nature-positive production and build resilience to vulnerability, shocks and stress I – At present: 1. What are the main risks affecting and/or threatening Mongolian Food Systems ? What are system weakness, people’s needs and vulnerabilities, existing coping mechanisms, and long-term and structural causes for continuing degradation of natural resources and vulnerabilities in response to social, economic and climatic risks? 2. What are the key challenges faced by food value chain’s stakeholders (i.e. agricultural, herding, MSMEs, industries)? What are the harmful food production and processing practices that deplete natural resources and accentuate risks? How to discourage them and how to encourage a shift towards adoption of more sustainable & resilient practices? 3. What are the specificities, strengths and opportunities of current Mongolian Food Systems on which could be drawn a sustainable, healthy, resi Read less