PR92886

GLASGOW, Scotland, November 8, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

    - UK boosts commitment to curtail agricultural emissions and reduce

climate-induced loss and damage

   CGIAR urged global leaders today to ensure the 500 million smallholder

farmers responsible for up to a third of global food production can adapt to

climate change-induced loss and damage. Innovations are needed that can both

reduce the contribution of global agriculture to climate change, and adapt to

its increasingly evident consequences while also supporting livelihoods,

nutrition and equality.

   Many smallholders reside in agriculture-dependent regions such as

sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia and face a rising tide of climate threats

including increased drought, flooding and water scarcity. The climate crisis is

exacerbating the degradation of food, land, and water systems, impacting

productivity, viability and resilience.

   The call comes as the United Kingdom pledged $55 million over two years to

boost commitments to CGIAR research from a steadily growing global coalition to

surpass $1 billion. The new pledges

[https://www.cgiar.org/news-events/news/cop26-climate-threats-to-smallholder-far

mers-drive-new-investments-in-cgiar-research/] will contribute to an

accelerating of research and innovation to confront rapidly intensifying

climate challenges that could upend the global fight against hunger and

poverty.

   UK Environment Secretary George Eustice said: "To keep 1.5 degrees alive, we

need action from every part of society, including an urgent transformation in

the way we manage ecosystems and grow, produce and consume food on a global

scale."

   "This is not an either/ or scenario where it's adaptation or mitigation,"

said Claudia Sadoff [https://www.cgiar.org/claudia-sadoff/], Managing Director,

Research Delivery and Impact at CGIAR. "For agriculture to become a more

sustainable and nature-positive sector, we have to provide tools that allow

farmers to rebalance the relationship between agriculture and nature while

building resilience to climate change."

   One example of work that CGIAR will undertake as part of new commitments is

an initiative to develop climate-smart crop seed varieties, such as

drought-tolerant wheat or rice that is adapted to grow in water affected by

saline intrusion from rising sea levels. CGIAR will lead the 'innovation

sprint' on Fast Tracking Climate Solutions from Global Germplasm Banks as part

of the new United States and United Arab Emirates Agriculture Innovation

Mission for Climate or AIM4C launched by President Biden at COP26.

   The first week at COP26 delivered significant support for climate innovation

for farmers across the developing world. Pledges to CGIAR came from the Bill &

Melinda Gates Foundation and countries including the United States, Canada,

Sweden and Belgium, and now the UK.

   The World Bank also reaffirmed a commitment made at the last Climate Action

Summit to provide $60 million for CGIAR adaptation work in Africa. Together

with on-going contributions, the Bank could potentially provide support in the

order of $150 million over the next three years.

    "The investments secured at COP26 will accelerate this work, but much more

is needed in the long run to fight global hunger and poverty. We must cultivate

a global and truly multilateral effort to bridge the remaining investment gap,

prioritize adaptation strategies and programs, and support the innovations to

confront this unprecedented threat to food systems that feed billions," said

Sadoff.

   Some examples of where CGIAR will direct its efforts via partnerships in new

initiatives include:  

   - Securing the Asian Mega-Deltas from Sea-Level Rise, Flooding, Salinization

and Water Insecurity

[https://www.cgiar.org/initiative/18-securing-the-asian-mega-deltas-from-sea-lev

el-rise-flooding-salinization-and-water-insecurity/]: This initiative will

develop climate adaptation measures against sea-level rise, floods, water

shortage, soil, and freshwater salinization. Smallholders and policymakers will

have access to timely, relevant information and financial solutions supporting

adoption of improved coping strategies.

    - Building Systemic Resilience Against Climate Variability and Extremes

[https://www.cgiar.org/initiative/23-climber-building-systemic-resilience-agains

t-climate-variability-and-extremes/]: Building on years of CGIAR climate

research, this initiative will help 30 million smallholders adapt to climate

change by 2030 by developing the enabling environment to support climate

adaptation interventions, at the magnitude and speed necessary to achieve rapid

and broad transformation.

   - Diversification for Resilient Agribusiness Ecosystems in East and Southern

Africa

[https://www.cgiar.org/initiative/21-ukama-ustawi-u2-water-secure-and-climate-re

silient-agricultural-livelihoods-in-east-and-southern-africa/]: This initiative

will improve resilience to climate and shocks, and adaptation across food,

land, and water systems, for millions of small-scale producers and vulnerable

groups on cropland spanning 12 countries.

   - Mitigation and Transformation Initiative for GHG Reductions of Agrifood

Systems Related Emissions

[https://www.cgiar.org/initiative/32-transforming-food-systems-from-greenhouse-g

as-sources-to-sinks-s2s/]: This initiative will reduce food system emissions

across seven countries, representing a 7% reduction in global food system

emissions, in ways that support climate-resilient development.

   - From Fragility to Resilience in Central and West Asia and North Africa:

Transforming Responses to Drought and Climate Variability

[https://www.cgiar.org/initiative/10-from-fragility-to-resilience-in-central-and

-west-asia-and-north-africa-f2r-cwana-transforming-responses-to-drought-and-clim

ate-variability/]: Millions of value chain actors will benefit from

climate-adapted innovations, making their livelihoods more resilient to drought

and climate variability. Mitigation co-benefits will contribute to a reduction

of CO2 equivalent emissions by 20% across value chains.

   - Accelerated Breeding

[https://www.cgiar.org/initiative/01-accelerated-breeding/]: Meeting Farmers'

Needs with Nutritious, Climate-Resilient Crops: Crop variety development and

trait discovery will target adaptation to forecasted climate change impacts,

such as drought, heat, flooding, diseases, and pests, for specific crop-region

combinations. This will inform locally-desirable coping strategies in response

to climate change.

    - Harnessing Digital Technologies for Timely Decision-Making Across Food,

Land, and Water Systems

[https://www.cgiar.org/initiative/25-harnessing-digital-technologies-for-timely-

decision-making-across-food-land-and-water-systems/]: Food, land, and water

systems stakeholders will have access to short-term climate forecasts to better

manage the risks, adopt climate-smart technologies and management practices,

and improve their climate adaptive capacity.

   About CGIAR

   CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food-secure future. CGIAR

science is dedicated to transforming food, land and water systems in a climate

crisis. Its research is carried out by 13 CGIAR Centers/Alliances in close

collaboration with hundreds of partners, including national and regional

research institutes, civil society organizations, academia, development

organizations and the private sector. www.cgiar.org

   Source: CGIAR