AGRICULTURE DAY AT COP28: The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization released the first part of its roadmap for the food and ag sector to help the world remain below 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming, while continuing toward the organization’s goal of ending global hunger. The roadmap outlines 120 actions and milestones for segments of the industry including clean energy, forests, food waste and livestock. This was the first COP with a day dedicated specifically to food issues. The FAO’s goals include: reducing agriculture’s methane emissions by 25 percent by 2030 relative to 2020, achieve carbon neutrality for agrifood systems by 2035 and turn food systems into a carbon sink by 2050. The roadmap also sets out to eliminate chronic hunger by 2030 and aims for healthy diets for all by 2050. Reactions: Not everyone thinks the roadmap goes far enough to curtail emissions associated with global food systems. “This roadmap puts a huge emphasis on incremental improvements to the current industrial food system — but this is a flawed system that is wrecking nature, polluting the environment, and starving millions of people,” said Emile Frison, member of the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems, in a statement. “The next stages of this process will need to go much further in proposing a real transformation of the status quo, by putting much more emphasis on diversification, shorter supply chains and agroecology, and on tackling the massive power inequalities imposed by the handful of companies that define what we grow and eat.” Patty Fong, program director at the Global Alliance for the Future of Food in a statement, said the proposal failed to set targets for eliminating fossil fuel use, such as in fertilizer, not just adjustments on the margins. Groups also raised alarm bells about the lack of focus on the livestock sector. “I’m extremely disappointed that the FAO’s roadmap fails to express the urgency of reducing meat and dairy consumption and production to meet the targets set by the Paris climate agreement,” said Stephanie Feldstein, population and sustainability director at the Center for Biological Diversity, in a statement. Role for American ag: The U.S. is now a leader on how to push agriculture toward climate-smart practices, Vilsack told reporters Sunday morning. “There’s no need for us to be defensive,” said Vilsack, speaking from Dubai at COP28. “We can articulate proactive leadership in the climate space. Leadership that I think is reflected in a number of opportunities for us to showcase what U.S. farmers and ranchers are doing to mitigate and adapt to a changing climate and doing it in a sustainable, substantive way.” Details: Vilsack emphasized that the U.S.’ efforts to transform American agriculture are based on “incentive-driven and market-based” mechanisms. A big chunk of those incentives are coming from the Inflation Reduction Act, which provided record increases to farm bill conservation programs. Vilsack also said that 136 of 141 of the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities have finalized their contracts, a key step to get the $3 billion in the program out the door. Also at COP28, the Biden administration — through a USDA, FDA and EPA initiative — announced a new initiative to reduce food waste throughout supply chains, MA readers will remember. Food waste contributes significant amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas more potent than carbon dioxide. This COP has also been a chance for the administration to showcase the work it’s doing to mitigate catastrophic forest fires and manage water resources, Vilsack said. AIM for Climate: Vilsack announced that the U.S. now has more than 600 partners in its AIM for Climate initiative and $17 billion in commitments, more than double the amount of investments at COP27. The program is a joint effort led by the U.S. and the United Arab Emirates to develop new ways to mitigate agriculture emissions and help food systems adapt to a changing climate — all while addressing global hunger. Cow burps: When asked if he was hearing about reducing meat consumption as a climate strategy, Vilsack demurred. Livestock contributes around 12 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. “I don't hear much about that,” said Vilsack. “I did hear about the important role that strategies for methane reduction could play in making the current livestock industry more sustainable.” He added that people were “reassured” when he told them that there are four strategies in the U.S. for reducing methane production associated with livestock. That includes research on different feeds or feed additives for reducing methane production, capturing methane from animal waste and reusing it for energy, as well as separation equipment, which processes livestock waste back into water and fertilizer.
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