African leaders have been urged to scale up investment to support the transformation to a more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood system.
Abebe Haile-Gabriel, Food and Agriculture Organization’s Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa said agrifood systems have the potential to be solutions to the climate crisis.
“Adverse weather patterns attributable to climate change are wreaking havoc on agricultural production and we must urgently strengthen agrifood systems’ resilience,” he said.
He spoke at the African Climate Summit being held in Nairobi.
The upcoming Africa Climate Summit has brought African heads of state and government, the private sector, civil society, and the public together to discuss climate challenges and solutions.
Haile noted that agrifood systems will be a central part of the conversation.
According to FAO, agrifood systems (AFS) encompass primary agricultural production of food and non-food products.
This includes crops, livestock, fisheries, forestry and aquaculture, production of food of non-agricultural origin, food supply chain from producers to consumers and the final consumption or disposal.
A sustainable food system is one that delivers food security and nutrition for all in such a way that the economic, social and environmental bases to generate food security and nutrition for future generations is not compromised.
“Agrifood systems can contribute to climate change. However, there are many effective solutions to build resilience and mitigate emissions in the agri-food sector. Improving animal husbandry means countries can significantly cut down greenhouse gas emissions from livestock production,” Haile said.
“Other options include minimizing food loss and waste, shifting to reduced tillage in agricultural fields, nature-based solutions, decarbonizing aquatic food value chains, turning crop residues into useful bio-products such as compost, textiles and energy, and halting deforestation,” he said.
Barrack Okoba, team leader of resilient food and food systems in FAO Kenya said they are keen on developing the resilience of communities towards the shocks and other crises that come alongside climate change.
“In doing that, we know that there are many challenges towards adaptation and the climate change crisis and for us to do that we have tried as much as we possible to identify which is the adaptation paths that the country should take,” said Okoba who leads a team that works on adaptation and mitigation of climate change.
He said FAO has developed strategies and practices on climate-smart agriculture looking at both livestock and crops which are part of the food system that people depend on.
FAO indicates that Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is an approach that helps guide actions to transform agri-food systems towards green and climate-resilient practices.
CSA aims to sustainably increase agricultural productivity and incomes, and adapt and build resilience to climate change. In addition to reducing and/or removing greenhouse gas emissions.
He added that as custodians of food and nutrition security, FAO emphasizes on the need for sustainable investment, consumption and production, resilience and climate security in a green and blue economy.
“There is a need to look at the agro-food system due to the challenges we are facing, especially in providing sufficient food. Accessing affordable food, safe and nutritious food to an increasing urban population,” Okoba said.
He said the Africa summit should speak on these issues of agri-food transformation where the population that is increasingly becoming urban can access affordable, safe and nutritious food.
“There is a connection between the African Summit and transforming the food system,” he said.