Action On Food

For World Soil Day, we were proud to have John Mundy from One Acre Fund represent the #ActionOnFood Hub at the #UNCCD conference in Riyadh, amplifying the voices of 500 million smallholder farmers who steward the land and feed much of the global population. At the Food and Agriculture Pavilion, alongside CGIAR and Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health (CA4SH), John delivered a powerful message: 👍 The Good: Progress is evident with 90+ Action on Food partners driving momentum on critical issues like methane and N₂O, along with groundbreaking partnerships and dialogues. Smallholder farmers were meaningfully represented at COP29. 👎 The Bad: Despite these efforts, concrete outcomes from negotiations remain elusive. Only 33 countries include soil health in their NDCs, highlighting a gap in actionable commitments. ❗ The Ugly: A glaring climate finance gap persists for smallholder farmers, with agriculture receiving just 14% of total climate finance. Smallholder farmers are left without the tools and resources they need to succeed. Why soil health matters across the Rio Conventions: 🪴 Biodiversity: Soil is home to immense biodiversity but is under threat due to agricultural practices. Without action, we risk massive biodiversity losses. ✨ Climate: Soils are both a carbon sink and a potential emitter. Healthy soils are critical for climate adaptation and mitigation efforts, especially for securing food systems. 🌳 Land Degradation: Degraded soils drive a vicious cycle of deforestation, desertification, and migration, disproportionately affecting smallholder farmers. The Call to Action: Smallholder farmers are key to protecting biodiversity, mitigating climate change, and regenerating soils. But we cannot expect them to shoulder these responsibilities without proper financing, tools, and access to information. Let’s connect the dots. Soil health is foundational to achieving global climate and biodiversity goals. It’s time to prioritise smallholder farmers in policy and financing decisions. Read the Food Systems Call to Action here: https://lnkd.in/gYCsHAv7 #ActionOnFood #WorldSoilDay #UNCCD #COP29 #SoilHealth #ClimateAction #SmallholderFarmers

Since COP26, Mateusz Ciasnocha has worked relentlessly to place farmers at the center of global climate action. From COP27 to COP29 and now at the UNCCD conference in Riyadh, he has engaged with farming communities to amplify their voices. His 2021 call to action remains as impactful as ever: forge connections with farmers, embrace their realities, and collaborate toward a net-zero, nature-positive future. Mateusz continues to remind us that farmers are not just adapting to the impacts of climate change — they are leading the way with innovative, regenerative practices. However, to scale these solutions, world leaders must prioritise: 1️⃣ Building bridges, not walls: Foster trust and collaboration rather than division. 2️⃣ Reforming agricultural subsidies: Shift from action-based to results-driven schemes that support soil health, resilience, and sustainability. Mateusz’s work shows farmers are still leading the charge — but they can’t do it alone. 🌍 Let’s ensure that as we move forward, we keep farmers’ voices at the centre of climate solutions. #RegenerativeAgriculture #Farmers #ClimateAction #RaceToZero #FoodSystemsTransformation #SoilHealth #ActionOnFood

Join us to explore innovative policy approaches and practical solutions that can drive Land Degradation Neutrality. Your insights and participation are essential for creating lasting impact. At #COP16, we present Cultivating Change for Land Degradation Neutrality through Evidence-based Policy and Practice. This session will  leverage scientific data and evidence that can shape effective policies and practices for sustainable land management. 📅 Date: 6 December 2024 🕘 Time: 09:00 - 10:30 (AST GMT+3) 📍 Venue: MET-05, COP16 Blue Zone, Area A Find other events we are involved in here: https://lnkd.in/d6wPw2Q9 COP16Riyadh Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health (CA4SH) CIFOR-ICRAF World Agroforestry WWF Rabobank Instituto Interamericano de Cooperación para la Agricultura (IICA)  #LandRestoration #PolicyChange #ClimateAction #COP16RIYADH

The Action On Food Hub is at COP16Riyadh! We are thrilled to have you join us for the event "Soil Health as the Foundation: Implementing and Monitoring Landscape Restoration for Achieving Land Degradation Neutrality and the Sustainable Development Goals" during UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh. Date: 5 December 2024  Time: 11:00 - 12:30 (AST GMT+3)  Location: Food & Agriculture Pavilion (CGIAR), COP 16 Blue Zone, Zone C, Pavilion C15 (map of the venue) Find other events we are involved in here: https://lnkd.in/d6wPw2Q9 One Acre Fund CIFOR-ICRAF International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health (CA4SH) CGIAR

So, what did ProVeg get up to at COP29? 🤔🌱 Earlier this month, the ProVeg UN advocacy team made their mark at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, joining global leaders to drive meaningful change for our planet's food systems. This year, ProVeg partnered with the wider food-systems community on the Action On Food Hub. As part of this initiative, ProVeg coordinated the policy-zone area as a way to bridge the gap between negotiations and civil society, and to ensure that policymakers got to hear the demands of the public. Over the two weeks, we pressed for change in how food systems are run – and a recognition that food-systems change is one of the critical solutions to the climate crisis. Upon arrival, we were disappointed to see limited plant-based catering options, and items mislabelled as ‘vegan’ or ‘vegetarian’ that contained animal-based products. During the first week, the COP presidency approached us and, after discussing the issues we’d identified, made significant efforts to correctly label and provide better plant-based options for the second week of the conference. Through workshops, panels, and networking events, we underscored the vital importance of integrating plant-based solutions into global climate strategies. 🌍 Key highlights include: - Juliette Tronchon emphasised the importance of amplifying the voices of youth, Indigenous peoples, and women and making sure that their voices are heard in climate discussion and negotiations during a press conference - Together with the WWF, the FAO, and CGIAR, we hosted a workshop on actions to stop deforestation by 2030 through food system transformation. - We presented the ProVeg Food Plate at the Action On Food Hub Pavilion, emphasising its cultural adaptation for Brazil – and showing how culturally relevant solutions can help to achieve climate goals. -  A press conference held by Lana Weidgenant underlined the importance of plant-based catering at global climate events and further cemented the connection between our food choices and their environmental impacts. We’re already looking towards COP30 in Brazil next year, especially as the Director of Operations for the event has committed to sustainable and healthy food, including plant-based catering – and we’re hopeful that next year will be the ‘Food COP’! Read the full recap ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e5KVZ8Rh #ProVeg #COP29 #COP30

This update is a little late - I needed time to rest and reflect after jumping from the Biodiversity COP in Colombia to #COP29 in Baku. The world feels heavy right now. It’s easy to feel small in the face of global crises. Climate tipping points are being breached, political landscapes seem to be crumbling around us and we’ve seen disappointing outcomes from COP16, COP29 and the Plastics Treaty. Yet, in the face of these overwhelming challenges, people are showing up - not with certainty or easy answers, but with the kind of bravery that makes action possible even when solutions feel distant. Here are my bright spots from COP29: 💡 The #ActionOnFood Hub created a safe and thriving space for food systems transformation. Congratulations to EIT Food, Proveg International + Future Economy Forum for making this collaboration possible. Special mentions to Lucy, Glindys, Patricia, Richard, Juliette, Renske, Merijn. 💡 The World Rural Forum, One Acre Fund, and the Global Alliance for the Future of Food stood up for smallholder + family farmers, whose voices are often excluded from climate finance conversations. It was a privilege to support farmers like Esther Penunia + Proscovier Vikman, as they shared their stories and worked to organise against entrenched systems. Special thanks to Elena, Lauren, Ruchi, Dharini, Anna, Colin, John, Anna. 💡 The Alliance of Champions for Food Systems Transformation, a coalition of government leaders from Brazil, Norway, Sierra Leone, Cambodia + Rwanda, showcased bravery by taking bold steps to define what a blueprint for food systems transformation truly looks like. Big well done to the ACF's founding members + secretariat team Emma, Clem, James, Valeria, Katie and Morgan. 💡 Changing Markets Foundation are courageously taking on some of the world’s most powerful corporations to expose greenwashing. Huge respect to Caitlin, Alma + the team. 💡 Bravery was equally present in the journalists who, despite dwindling newsroom budgets and mounting pressures, continue to amplify the stories of changemakers fighting for justice. And, of course, the hardworking negotiators, local leaders + wider climate and food community - Sena, Oliver, James, Jennifer, Irene, Edward, Michael, Eirini, Bernard, Lee, Robert, Daphne, Rebecca, Gonzalo amongst many others. As I reflect, I’m reminded that food is a revolutionary act. To grow, share, and fight for better systems is an act of hope in a world that often tells us change is impossible. And bravery is the quiet, persistent force that keeps us pushing forward. To everyone who showed up and continues to fight for a brighter future - thank you. Your efforts remind us that greater ambition and urgency are essential to keeping 1.5°C within reach. Looking ahead, Brazil’s leadership at #COP30 presents a unique opportunity to drive progress toward equitable, sustainable and resilient food systems. Let’s build on the momentum to make 2025 a landmark year for climate action.

The aftermath of COP29: Where do we go from here?      Leaving Baku, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of urgency and hope. This "finance COP" may have fallen short of fully connecting the dots between food systems, climate resilience, and biodiversity, but we cannot overlook the undeniable progress made.     Five years ago, agriculture and food systems were barely a whisper in global climate conversations. Today, their central role in achieving both climate and SDG goals is firmly on the agenda.     Over the two weeks in Baku, it was a privilege to join forces with ProVeg International, Future Economy Forum, and so many others as part of the #ActionOnFood hub to:    🍽️ Deliver powerful discussions, workshops, and plenaries, amplifying the voice of food systems in the climate dialogue.  🌾 Spotlight smallholder farmers and sustainable agricultural practices as essential for building climate-resilient food systems.  📊 Collaborate with incredible partners to unveil groundbreaking research on methane reduction, soil health, plant-based diets, and the role of food systems in emissions reduction.     I’ve been continually inspired and uplifted by the people I’ve met and worked alongside – and I know this energy will continue far beyond #COP29 to push forward more equitable, sustainable, and resilient food systems.     We know there’s still so much to do. The Action On Food hub stands ready to drive greater ambition, and we at EIT Food are committed to keep scaling solutions, fostering collaboration, and ensuring food systems remain at the heart of climate action.     What are your hopes for the #FoodSystems transformation as we look beyond COP29? I'd love to hear your thoughts 👇     Finally, a heartfelt congratulations and thank you to everyone who made Action on Food possible. So much admiration and gratitude to the incredible colleagues and collaborators I’ve worked with: Lucy Wallace, Patricia Willems-Mawenu, Glindys Virginia L., Elizabeth Nsimadala, Oliver Oliveros, Helena Leurent, Zachary Tofias, Sylvie Wabbes, Lawrence Haddad CMG, Lauren Baker, Anna Lappé, Vatosoa Rakotondrazafy, Ignace Beguin Billecocq #RegenerateToAccelerate

In all, COP29 served up a bittersweet menu this year. 🍽⚠ While the final agreement included only a token reference to food and agriculture – a worrying oversight with serious risks for food security in the face of climate change – there are reasons to be hopeful. If we look at the bigger picture, progress is undeniable: five years ago, food and agriculture were absent from the climate agenda. Today, there is growing recognition of their critical role in meeting both climate and SDG goals and there are still reasons to be hopeful: • Up to 25 countries included food waste and loss in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). 🌱 • The Sharm el-Sheikh Joint Work (SSJW) program reached consensus on implementing climate action in agriculture and food security. 🤝 • Carbon market playbooks (Article 6/6.2 & 6.4) finalised with clear benefits for the agriculture, forest, and land-use sectors. 🌳 • Denmark became the first country to tax agricultural emissions, and 27+ countries signed agreements advocating for GHG-emission pricing in agrifood systems. 💰 • 133 initiatives and over 1,000 events highlighted leadership on food systems transformation. 🌟 These are the result of sustained, collective action by the food community, and we were proud to coordinate the Action On Food Hub in Baku, alongside ProVeg International and Future Economy Forum, to support this. The Action on Food hub was the home of the food community of #COP29, providing space for policy engagement, the exchange of ideas and dialogues, ensuring food systems had a strong, coordinated voice at the climate negotiations. There is much more to do. We must stay optimistic and persistent, building partnerships, advocating for systemic change, scaling up solutions, and mobilising significant finance to transform food systems – focusing especially on smallholder farmers, forest dwellers, fishers, pastoralists, and Indigenous Peoples. This funding will drive climate resilience, protect biodiversity, safeguard livelihoods, uphold food sovereignty, and ensure nutritious food for all. 🌎💚 Momentum from COP29 must now translate into actionable commitments by 2025, as countries are updating their NDCs. Brazil’s leadership at #COP30 presents a unique opportunity to advance equitable, sustainable, and resilient food systems, but there is a lot to do on the ‘road to #Belém’. With the #ActionOnFood Hub we are ready to meet this challenge and raise ambition in the year ahead✊🌐 Watch. This. Space. https://lnkd.in/dV3a49CN What do you think is the most critical action needed to transform food systems? 👇 #ImprovingFoodTogether #FoodSystemsTransformation #RegenerativeFoodSystems

Love this Voices from COP29 series by Agroecology Coalition and Biovision Foundation. And this one features Ruchi Tripathi from the Global Alliance for the Future of Food team! #women #farmers #agroecology #COP29

🌍 Reflections from COP29: Food Systems Getting 180+ countries with diverse perspectives and varying climate risks to agree is painstakingly slow. Of course, we need to speed up and scale up efforts, but when you take a broader perspective, the progress on food systems is undeniable. I believe we will get there. 🍽️ Five years ago, agriculture and food systems weren’t even on the climate agenda. 🌾 Today, there is growing recognition of their central role in achieving both climate and SDG goals. ✨ Key Milestones on Food Systems at COP29: ✅ 133 distinct initiatives, alliances, coalitions, platforms, working groups, and fora are now focused on climate change and the agri-food sector. (Thank you, Nikita Eriksen-Hamel & Martial Bernoux !) ✅ Up to 25 countries have included food waste and loss in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). ✅ The Sharm el-Sheikh Joint Work (SSJW) program reached consensus on implementing climate action in agriculture and food security, including agreement on parameters for a new website portal. ✅ The conclusion of the playbook for carbon markets (Article 6/6.2 & 6.4) was a notable success, with clear benefits for the agriculture, forest, and land-use sectors. ✅ Denmark became the first country to tax agriculture emissions, while 27+ countries signed agreements urging GHG-emission pricing in agri-food systems. ✅ More than 1,000 events highlighted local and regional leadership on food systems transformation. 🚀 This is progress. Climate change is complex and requires solutions both inside and outside the UNFCCC process—particularly at the country level and beyond. 💡 I remain an optimist and a relentless advocate for building the right partnerships, advocating for systemic change, and scaling up solutions. 💪🌎 Special shout out to Action On Food ProVeg International EIT Food Future Economy Forum for their relentless efforts to curate a space for Food Systems to have a voice at COP29.