Gabi Gershuny’s Post

Let's transform agrifood systems— one contract at a time. Agrifood systems are at the heart of the climate and nature crisis, contributing 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions and driving significant nature loss. But they also hold the power to lead the solution. Legal contracts are critical tools for helping food and agriculture companies turn ambitious climate and nature goals into actionable, enforceable commitments. Contracts in agrifood systems can: ✅ Ensure accountability and delivery. ✅ Build resilient supply chains and comply with regulations like the EU Deforestation Regulation. ✅ Foster innovation by enabling collaboration, incentivising regenerative farming, and scaling sustainable solutions across the value chain. 👉 Discover how your legal frameworks can drive transformation in agrifood systems here: https://lnkd.in/gsJV-uUc #food #agriculture #law

Challenges remain for new Commission in defining future EU agrifood policies. Striking a balance between the needs of farmers, consumer demands and sustainability will likely define the agrifood policies during the new European Commission mandate.

The Farm-to-Fork impasse and the EU’s self-sufficiency in food practices. A recent study conducted by the AGRI Committee (2023) titled ‘The dependency of the EU’s food system on input and their sources’ quotes the need for revision of several F2F’ targets/objectives based on general stakeholders feedback (https://lnkd.in/dt8kJxUr) The supporting facts are that: - the #F2F strategy, enshrined in the wider #GreenDeal policy, which aim to halve chemical pesticide use and cut fertilizer use by 20 percent by 2030 as part of a plan to be carbon neutral by 2050, came under criticism, as an overall impact assessment did not accompany it - various studies warned that some of the greenhouse gas reduction targets risk exerting a negative effect on agricultural production - in the aftermath of the pandemic and Russia's War on Ukraine, a debate has emerged around whether the sustainability goals harm or improve food security. This latter stance was substantiated in January 2024 by criticism stemming from a report of the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change over the Commission’s failure to deliver some of the initiatives, and the request for more adequate financial incentives for farmers to decrease agricultural emissions(e.g. to end fossil fuel subsidies and tackle emissions related to farming and land use) and a ‘rapid, robust and effective implementation of the raft of legislation on renewables, energy efficiency and land use tabled by European Commission as part of its flagship ‘Green Deal’ policy.”(https://lnkd.in/drsn8w3C) - are well known for the repeated delays of the F2F initiatives and the farmers' backlash that has added uncertainty to the strategy: out of 31 promised interventions, 15 are stalled, and the highly contested proposal on pesticides, was withdrawn by Ursula von der Leyen. What can we derive from the above elements? To be cautious and realistic, F2F measures must be further evaluated and carefully implemented to avoid the risk of reducing the production capacity of EU agriculture and weakening the EU’s self-sufficiency in food practices .

🍎 How to mitigate half of #foodsystem emissions by 2030? With a third of global emissions from food production, action is crucial. Research from WBCSD, FOLU Coalition, and We Mean Business Coalition shows that by reducing emissions from agriculture, protecting nature, increasing on-farm carbon capture and storage, and shifting demand from emissions-intensive commodities, the food and agriculture sector can mitigate up to as much as 9 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO2e) annually. 🤝 Collaboration is essential, especially to support farmers facing disproportionate costs. Initiatives like the Farmer First Clusters (FFC) demonstrate collective action's power. Partnerships between businesses, policymakers, and financial institutions are crucial for creating an enabling environment. 👉 Read more in the article by Diane Holdorf (Executive Vice President, WBCSD) for Reuters: https://lnkd.in/gApstpC8

Why Carbon Leakage Matters for Small-Scale Farmers: A Ripple Effect with Unforeseen Consequences While large corporations are often the focus of carbon leakage concerns, the impact on small-scale farmers can be equally significant, albeit indirect. Here's a closer look at how carbon leakage can create a ripple effect that disrupts the livelihoods of these vital members of our agricultural sector: Market Shifts and Unfair Competition: When a country with strong environmental regulations implements a carbon tax, large-scale agribusinesses might relocate to countries with weaker regulations. This shift can lead to two major issues for small-scale farmers in the stricter-regulation country: Increased competition: They may face unfair competition from imported food produced with less regard for the environment. This imported food may be cheaper due to the lack of environmental regulations, putting a strain on the ability of small-scale farmers to compete on price. Reduced market access: Consumers seeking sustainable products might find it harder to find local options if production shifts overseas. This can lead to a decline in demand for locally produced, sustainable food grown by small-scale farmers. Technology Access and the Challenge of a Level Playing Field: Developing countries often lack access to cleaner technologies that could help them meet stricter environmental standards. This lack of access creates a significant disadvantage for small-scale farmers in those countries. They may struggle to compete with producers from countries with more advanced technologies, potentially limiting their market access and hindering their ability to participate in a global sustainable food system. Moving forward, we'll explore potential solutions to address carbon leakage and create a fairer future for all stakeholders in the agricultural sector. #ClimateChange #Sustainability #CarbonLeakage #GreenBusiness #SmallScaleFarming Caroline Komuhangi MBA Emmanuel Siryoyi Awori Edward Luyombya, ACCA

Addressing sustainable practices in agribusiness is a proactive measure to put both present and future needs under control. It is more about caring for the environment, food security, and the people in the value chain. #Episode07 #Agribusiness360Series

#PressRelease | Today, our President Jan Plagge took part in a panel on "Resilient and innovation-driven EU food system" at COMAGRI's public hearing on #StrategicDialogue on the future of EU agriculture. The Strategic Dialogue’s recommendations are an opportunity for all farmers; they make it clear that environmental sustainability must go hand in hand with fair incomes. The dialogue offers clear pathways for all farmers to transition to sustainable systems in a way that improves livelihoods, provides a real simplification while preventing greenwashing. The Strategic Dialogue recognises organic as prime example of food production system that reconciles nature protection and farmers’ income. It is the only legally defined and regulated sustainable production system in the EU and should be upscaled. We call on the European Commission and the Parliament to build on this unprecedented consensus among all agrifood stakeholders to shape a clear vision of the future for the agriculture sector. Read our PR 👉 https://ow.ly/qVEe50TKYlK

Today, IFOAM Organics Europe’s President Jan Plagge addressed the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (COMAGRI) hearing on the outcomes of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture. The #StrategicDialogue has highlighted organic farming as a leading example of a food production system that balances nature protection with fair income for farmers. As the only legally defined and regulated sustainable production system in the EU, organic farming should be upscaled. The European Commission and Parliament must leverage this unique consensus among agrifood stakeholders to craft a clear vision for the future of agriculture. We must work towards a unified vision for the EU agrifood system that reconciles environmental sustainability with improving farmers’ livelihoods. We need to encourage more farmers to transition sustainably while acknowledging the positive impact of pioneers like #organicfarmers who are already advancing sustainability and biodiversity. The European organic movement remains committed to building bridges to achieve this shared vision, making the EU agrifood sector more economically and environmentally sustainable. Let’s unite our efforts to shape a better future for the EU agrifood system.💚 Read IFOAM Organics Europe’s PR here👉 https://lnkd.in/eUdszZMn #MakingEuropeMoreOrganic #EUOrganic

Rather than propping up the status quo, farmers should focus on the transition to more sustainable methods of food production   #european_business_review #EBR #european #business #review #news #europe #world

Innovative Finance Driving Climate-Smart Agriculture This week in Belize, I’ve been supporting the upcoming deployment of matching grants through the CRESAP project, financed by the World Bank. These grants will enable the adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies, helping farmers build resilience to climate risks in the agriculture sector. By strategically leveraging public and private capital, we will mobilize finance for smallholder farmers and agribusinesses, empowering them to scale sustainable practices, increase productivity, and reduce emissions. This initiative highlights the effectiveness of innovative financing mechanisms in advancing sustainable agriculture and climate resilience. Our efforts underscore the crucial role of strategic partnerships and value chain financing in transforming agrifood systems and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 💡 Sustainable food systems depend on forward-looking solutions that foster climate resilience and economic growth. 🌱💼 Learn more about how innovative finance and CSA are driving change here: https://lnkd.in/dEcfY3X6 #ClimateSmartAgriculture #CRESAP #InnovativeFinance #AgrifoodDevelopment #PrivateSectorFinance #MatchingGrants #SustainableDevelopment #SDGs #ClimateResilience