COP16: Bringing food systems into the Convention on Biological Diversity
21 October – 1 November 2024, Cali, Valle Del Cauca, Colombia
The 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will convene from 21 October to 21 November 2024, in Cali, Colombia.
Food systems and biodiversity are inextricably linked. Protecting nature and biodiversity is integral to sustainable food and agriculture, and food production cannot be at the cost of decimating forests, land and ecosystems. Industrialized food systems drive 90% of deforestation, 60% of biodiversity loss, and account for 70% of the world’s freshwater use. The hidden cost of current industrial food systems globally is at least $12 trillion a year, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization.
Agroecology—the practice, science, and movement for a food system aligned with nature and people—has been shown to deliver explicit benefits to biodiversity, especially at the landscape level, with links to enhancing soil health and preserving forests, water, seeds, and livestock.
At COP16, governments will focus on the implementation of the landmark Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The GBF is a comprehensive package of goals and targets to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, transform societal relationships with nature, and support the 2050 vision of living in harmony with nature.
Meeting many of the targets of the GBF will require a transformation of food systems. Nine out of 13 National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) submitted to the CBD as of August 2024, explicitly include agroecology within their national objectives. These developments reflect how addressing food systems has emerged as a frontier for policy action over the past decade to overcome siloed, sector-specific approaches.
NEW REPORT ON INTEGRATING AGROECOLOGY INTO NATIONAL NATURE PLANS
The Global Alliance for the Future of Food together with Biovision Foundation, WWF, Agroecology Coalition, the Alliance Bioversity International-CIAT, and CGIAR Initiative on Agroecology are bringing out a new guidance report in mid-October 2024 on Boosting Biodiversity Through Agroecology, which will serve as guidance for policymakers developing and updating National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).
SUPPORTING FRONTLINE FOOD LEADERS AT COP16
The Global Alliance for the Future of Food is excited to support the participation of 16 frontline food leaders from around the world at COP16. Each of them brings unique insights, perspectives and learnings from their long-standing experience as food producers, researchers, community trainers, and food justice advocates.
The document below provides brief profiles of each frontline leader. They work at the intersection of nature and food, as practitioners of agroecological and organic farming, fisheries, and agroforestry. They are relentless campaigners for food sovereignty, Indigenous Peoples rights, and land rights in their communities.
The Global Alliance is co-leading and participating at several events at COP16: a few highlights
Boosting Food System Transformation at COP16 – launch of a new guidance report
Date & Time: 27 October, 15:30-16:30
Location: Nature Positive Pavilion, Small Room, Blue Zone
Global Alliance Executive Director Anna Lappé will be in conversation with other panelists at the launch event of our brand new report Boosting Biodiversity Action Through Agroecology: Guidance for developing and updating National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans
The report, produced together with Biovision Foundation, WWF, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, and Agroecology Coalition, offers detailed recommendations to policymakers on how agroecological approaches in food systems can help meet biodiversity targets, while also building climate-resilience, ensuring food sovereignty, and enhancing positive health outcomes. Watch the event online.
Speakers:
- Camila Cammaert, WWF Colombia
- Anna Lappé, Global Alliance for the Future of Food
- John Garcia, Biovision Male
- Mauricio Cabrera, Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible
- Robin Goffaux, delegate -governments of france
- Esther Penunia, Asian Farmer Association (AFA)
- Rodger Mpande, Zimbabwe Regional Environment Organisation (ZERO)
Harvesting Solutions: Aligning NBSAPs and NDCs for Climate and Biodiversity Benefits
Date & Time: 26 October, 11:30 -13:00
Location: CGIAR Pavilion, Blue Zone
In the face of increasing ecological challenges, the alignment of biodiversity and climate protection is crucial for the realization of sustainable food systems. The event “Harvesting Solutions: Aligning NBSAPs and NDCs for Climate and Biodiversity Benefits” will address how National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) can be better aligned to promote resilient, sustainable food systems. The event can be viewed online.
Food Systems for People and Planet: How True Cost Accounting can offer a Roadmap toward Solutions
Date & Time: 28 October, 16:00 -17:30
Location: CGIAR Pavilion, Blue Zone.
Many countries aim for sustainable food systems, which provide nutritious food equitably while advancing economic, social, and environmental objectives. However, most food systems generate substantial damaging environmental, social, and health impacts that are not reflected in the market prices of goods or services, including threats to biodiversity.
At the same time, approaches that generate value for people and nature are largely unrecognized and unrewarded. True cost accounting (TCA) is a method that systematically measures and values positive and negative impacts to reveal the “true cost” of food production. As a result, TCA can provide decision makers with a roadmap to create healthy, sustainable food systems that help solve global challenges. View the event online.
Press Briefing
Date & time: Wednesday 30 October 2024, 16:00-16:30 local time
Location: Press area COP16 blue zone – press conference room. The briefing will be streamed online
Speakers at this press briefing will unpack the key highlights from the new report, Boosting Agroecology through Biodiversity Action, for media at COP16
Speakers:
- Matheus Alves Zanella (Global Alliance for the Future of Food)
- Natasja Oerlemans (WWF)
- Carolina Navarrete (Alliance of Bioversity International – CIAT)
If you are a journalist covering COP 16, Global Alliance spokespeople are available for comment and interviews. Please contact: Dharini Parthasarathy, Director of Communications
E: dharini@futureoffood.org or comms@futureoffood.org.
A GUIDE TO FRONTLINE FOOD LEADERS AT CBD COP16
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