The Irish Forum for International Agricultural Development hosted its annual conference on Wednesday 20th October 11am-2pm (online). This year’s conference came at the crossroads of two global events – the Food Systems Summit, and the COP26 on Climate Change. Given the inextricable links between food and climate, discussions focused on the outcomes of the Food Systems Summit, and how action areas for agriculture and food systems can be aligned with the upcoming COP26 on Climate Change
Key issues for Sustainable Food Systems and Climate Action raised at the IFIAD 2021 Annual Conference
“Primary producers have a leading role in food system’s transformation, but they will need support at the national and international level to achieve the changes needed to improve competitiveness and innovation to protect and restore biodiversity and to address the urgent need for climate action” this was a statement made by the Minister of state Pippa Hackett in her opening remarks as she addresses the importance of inclusion for sustainable food systems and climate action going forward. The panellist echoed this key issue in their discussions that it is very crucial to build on inclusive dialogues where all stakeholders across different sectors including Farmers participate in decision making and policy making processes. These are some of the commitments coming from the UN food summit, the commitment of leaving no one behind. The Minister also echoed the statement made by the president in his address at the UN Food System Summit that “The need for action is now more urgent than ever as we face climate and biodiversity emergencies which threaten our very future on this planet, He also declared that ending world hunger and ensuring the right to food for all must be placed at the top of the political Agenda”.
Another vital aspect that was emphasised during discussion is the factor of “Trust “that somewhat trust between all actors in the food system including civil society and consumers is crucial to achieving sustainable food systems and that at the moment in both National and international level the trust is not always there. The panellist Member Sinead Mowlds emphasised that if we don’t have strong collective action from every corner, we’re simply going to fall short of getting to where we need to be. She also argued that we can do more to build this trust. It was concluded that one solution to build this trust is to develop more transparent decision-making processes, in the process where representation should be happening from all stakeholders in the system. Practically we should see more transparency in the criteria for the decision-making bodies.
The system Approach was a big take way from the UN food Summit and that there is vital need for a functioning global trade system which will incorporate the interests of the poor countries which are mostly disadvantaged by unfair global trade.
Areas of polarization/lack of consensus
One major aspect of concern discussed was that countries tend to shy away from political issues, and most governments are likely to be at a risk of taking the easier options of technical solutions in their pathways and ignore some of the more political issues around trying to create more equitable food systems and realising the rights of the most marginalised. Private sectors were also reflected in the discussions that they are very crucial in driving the food systems, however a bit of a setback with private sectors is that they do not reflect interests of other private stakeholders, So the question is based on what criteria are these steering committee selected because the steering committee has a huge influence on the outcomes of the policies. Sinead Mowlds suggested that it would be very useful to see the inclusion and exclusion criteria for the contributions received during those processes.
It is believed that a formal mediation process is needed in place to mitigate potential disagreements that arise and work towards garnering consensus to achieve sustainability collectively. Connell Folley then explained that a mediation process that can be put in place should be neutral and not coming with vested interest, so that there is a balance view holding governments to account for the commitments. It is also worrying in this era that we still have people and organisations that are not willing to engage in such conversations just because it is not in their terms.
Another crack within the food system is the issue of financing, although a big chunk of finance is put in place leading to cop 26, there is little funding from that chunk going to adaptation which is a big challenge to smallholder farmers, and it seems unclear how finance scales down to the most affected and vulnerable including small holder farmers and indigenous people who will hugely benefit from it. Connell Foley emphasized that we need to see them at the centre of decision-making processes rather than just passive beneficiaries.
Areas not discussed at the IFIAD conference
One of the important issues that was not discussed is the issue of coordination. I would have loved to hear how they will coordinate the implementation of the commitments made by the countries at the UN Food System Summit. And perhaps also a responsible monitoring process for implementation. And looking at the Sanctions, countries have made commitments and signed agreements to minimize global heating below 20C, but none of these are compulsory and there are no sanctions to any countries which decides not to honour its agreement. The conference also did not discuss other aspects of food systems and agriculture such as fisheries and marine ecosystems. These are major aspects of the food systems that are vulnerable to the global climate change increase and variability.
Important thoughts to take to COP26
“Where is the sense of Urgency?” this was a statement made by Professor Charles Spillane in his closing remarks emphasizing that we are facing a climate change crisis and there is a need to act fast and swiftly like we did when covid 19 hit.
Professor Mark Howden said that “People will make short term changes in face of risk and particularly near and present danger , so to make long term changes we need to base it on opportunities” COP 26 might be our advantage to bring structural changes that support and include the youth and the marginalized to boost nature positive production and enhance the systems at scale to ultimately meet the fundamental human rights to healthy and nutritious food while operating withing planetary boundaries.