Bhavya Bhardwaj’s Post

"[Sept 12] Impact of climate change on agriculture suggests even greater challenges to the environment, global food supply and public health A sweeping global research review of the links between climate and agriculture reveals the likelihood of an emergent feedback loop whereby, as climate change puts more pressure on the global food supply, agriculture will, by necessity, adopt practices that may exacerbate its environmental impact. The paper also identifies new agricultural practices that have the potential to increase efficiency and stabilize our food supply in the decades to come." #sustainablepractices #riskmanagement #foodsupply #climateimpact #agsolutions #farmingsolutions #climatesolutions #systemsolutions https://lnkd.in/gNPScXiz

Europe's food and farming systems stand at a crossroads, facing mounting challenges from environmental degradation to geopolitical turmoil. The Strategic Dialogue, initiated by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, brought together 29 key stakeholders from across Europe—farmer unions, consumer group, environmental NGOs, and business leaders—to shape a common vision for the future of agriculture. Over the course of seven months, this diverse group worked to address the pressing challenges facing the sector, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. The Strategic Dialogue provides a clear roadmap for the future of European agriculture. Next week, Agriculture Ministers will meet to discuss the future of a "farmer-focused post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy." With the work of the Strategic Dialogue already offering a comprehensive vision, the task for ministers is clear: they need to embrace this plan and take decisive steps to put it into action. The worst thing ministers can do is making superficial changes and continuing to lock farmers into an unsustainable business as usual system. Farmers and society are grappling with serious, interconnected challenges, from the impacts of climate change to ecosystem breakdown, that require bold, transformative policies. Simply tweaking the current system will not be enough. To ensure the resilience of our farming communities and protect the planet for future generations, ministers must commit to the fundamental changes outlined in the Strategic Dialogue. #NoNatureNoFood #EUagriculture #farmersprotests2024 Ariel Brunner

The The New York Times has an insightful Easter article* from rural France about the 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞. Intriguingly, the article is silent about the detrimental impacts of climate change & nature degradation on farming itself. A fake solution appears to be in the making: sticking to traditions will make the problems go away. In reality, we must fundamentally change our agri-food system. We do this either by design - in agreement with farmers - or by disaster. I strongly prefer design. The European Commission ' Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture'** is aimed establishing such consensual transformation. Do join this endeavor to reconcile agriculture and the preservation of nature to build a conceptual consensus on how  agriculture, food and feed, the environment, rural areas, and so forth could and should look like. With Erica Johnson ( Agreena) I put down some thoughts*** in February as the 2040 EU climate target was flagged by the European Commission. Our approach and closing lines resonates with the angry farmers: "Farmers need to have a seat at the political table and meeting net zero targets should come from synergistic mechanisms and collaboration. Their calls for navigating the CAP with ease need to be met, and knowledge and financial barriers must be overcome. Similar to the energy transition, the upfront costs of transforming agricultural practices is significant, but provide long-term gains. Agriculture’s transformation needs a ‘financing green – greening finance’ approach: from a revision of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and additional incentives and revenues generated through carbon markets, every cent counts to mobilise farmers and support them with the burdensome upfront costs of new equipment and risks associated with making their transition. It is critical that this transformation and the pathway to net zero is just, with farmers provided access to fair market value for the valuable ecosystem services they provide. Recognising farmers as the stewards of the land who are sustaining us all – we must as policymakers, businesses, financiers, carbon credit buyers, and civil society – work together to prioritise them and support their transition with acceleration." #farming #farmers #agriculture #climatechange #nature #CAP #sustainability #greendeal #farmtofork #farmersprotest

Did you know the labeling of products can play a crucial role in incentivizing the adoption of #climatesmartagriculture practices? Daniel Lapidus, Senior Economist and Climate Liaison, will participate in the 'What is a Regenerative Ag Label and Why Does it Matter' panel at today's 2024 Carolina Meat and Value-Added Dairy Conference. Learn more about our work to improve the value of investments in climate-smart agriculture. https://lnkd.in/e577Zn8R

Did you know the labeling of products can play a crucial role in incentivizing the adoption of #climatesmartagriculture practices? Daniel Lapidus, Senior Economist and Climate Liaison, will participate in the 'What is a Regenerative Ag Label and Why Does it Matter' panel at today's 2024 Carolina Meat and Value-Added Dairy Conference. Learn more about our work to improve the value of investments in climate-smart agriculture. https://ow.ly/EokR50SMJfi

🌍🥩 MODEST BEEF CUTS CAN ERASE 3 YEARS OF FOSSIL FUEL EMISSIONS While scientific consensus calls for sharp reductions in livestock farming to lower emissions and battle climate change, even modest cutbacks in beef production could bring wins, according to a new report. The onus lies with wealthy countries, whose per-capita emissions are twice the global average (and 33 times higher than low-income nations). If these countries reduce beef production by 13%, it could remove 125 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, an amount greater than the fossil fuel industry’s emissions from 2021-23. “We can achieve enormous climate benefits with modest changes to the total global beef production,” said Matthew Hayek, an assistant environmental studies professor at New York University’s Department of Environmental Studies and lead author of the analysis. “By focusing on regions with potentially high carbon sequestration in forests, some restoration strategies could maximise climate benefits while minimising changes to food supplies,” he added. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/ewgkfyHW #GreenQueen #sustainability #climateaction #emissions #foodsystems #futurefoods #foodtech

🍏 Agriculture and land use are responsible for ~60% of biodiversity loss & 30% of greenhouse gas emissions. By leveraging voluntary frameworks to set ambitious science-based targets, companies can fast-track the shift toward #NaturePositive #FoodSystems. More sustainable, equitable and resilient food systems will: 🪵 Halt deforestation 🌱 Protect and restore land 🧑🌾 Support a #JustTransition Erin Billman, Executive Director, #SBTN says: "Companies taking voluntary environmental action are raising corporate ambition levels and shaping future regulation. "Through #ScienceBasedTargets, food and agriculture companies can take holistic action across climate and nature, halting not just #deforestation but also the conversion of all natural lands in their supply chains, and driving the much-needed transformation of our food and land use practices." 🔗 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/exgmnE6q Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU) We Mean Business Coalition WBCSD – World Business Council for Sustainable Development 👉 Learn more about science-based targets for nature: https://lnkd.in/enXegWGt #ForNature #FutureFit #Ag #FoodSector #FoodSystems #GlobalCommons #BiodiversityLoss #NatureLoss #Biodiversity #SystemChange

Missed opportunity for kickstarting climate and environmental action in agriculture in the new political term. Commissioner-designate for agriculture and food Christophe Hansen answered the European Parliament’s questions about his potential upcoming mandate during yesterday’s 3-hour hearing. Plant-based proteins, a healthier and more sustainable protein source, were reduced to domestic animal feed. Carbon farming, an opportunity to restore nature and strengthen agroecosystems, was framed simply as a possible income solution. While he recognised livestock's significant role in agricultural emissions, Mr Hansen repeatedly downplayed the need to accelerate efforts to reduce agricultural emissions, strongly opposed the idea of emission pricing in agriculture, and expressed a preference for partial technofixes such as feed additives over structural changes, such as reducing livestock numbers and a shift towards plant-based diets. This stands in stark contrast to the Strategic Dialogue report which calls for rebalancing diets with plant-based proteins and warns that technical solutions alone are not enough. In all fairness, Mr Hansen did not find himself in a conducive environment to show ambition on climate and nature. In the sad political reality that is our new European Parliament, questions started with a reference to recent climate catastrophes and turned mid-sentence to ask how we were going to simplify and deregulate agriculture. Nature restoration regulation was labelled the irresponsible act of green extremists. The climate talk in agri was disappointing, hoping for better agri talk in climate on Thursday during Wopke Hoekstra’s hearing as commissioner-designate for climate. #climate #agriculture #commissionerhearings

With the surge in global population and the intensification of environmental crisis, agricultural technology emerges as a vital tool for farmers to uphold better food standards, foster environmental sustainability, and boost economic prosperity. #DrAkoto #AgriculturalEconomist #agriculturaltechnology #environmentalsustainability #FoodStandards #farmers #agritech

The challenge of feeding a growing global population while tackling agriculture's huge climate footprint is real—and it’s urgent. According to the FAO, global food production needs to increase by 60% by 2050, but agriculture and food systems already contribute a third of global greenhouse gases. So, how do we solve this paradox? The answer might lie in unlocking better ways to measure and verify sustainable practices on farms. To close this gap, we need to establish clear standards, streamline data management, and mobilize billions in private sector funding. In this report, BCG and Food Systems for the Future have outlined a roadmap to empower farmers to adopt climate-smart practices. These solutions pave the way for a resilient and sustainable agricultural future—one that benefits farmers, the environment, and our global food system. Read the summary article here: https://lnkd.in/g7yv8K-C #SustainableAgriculture #AgTech #ClimateAction #Sustainability