Agricultural experts advocate for a green transition to mitigate climate change’s effects on food production. The 2024 World AgriFood Innovation Conference emphasized the need for technological advancements to address projected declines in food output due to rising temperatures. China is highlighted as a leader in food security efforts, aiming to boost production while minimizing environmental impact, underscoring its influential position in global agricultural reforms.
A global assembly of agricultural experts has advocated for an innovation-driven green transition within the agri-food sector aimed at mitigating climate change and reducing carbon emissions. While certain agricultural regions have reaped benefits from elevated temperatures, significant uncertainties associated with global warming are adversely affecting food production across Asia, Africa, and South America, according to the advocacy group. These insights were shared at the 2024 World AgriFood Innovation Conference (WAFI), hosted by China Agricultural University in Beijing. Sun Qixin, the university’s president and a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, asserted that standard projections indicate a potential 6 to 8 percent decline in food production for every 1 degree Celsius rise in global temperatures, highlighting the essential role of technological advancements to counteract these adverse outcomes. He emphasized, “However, the impact of a warmer climate is not uniform across the globe.” Despite some instances where warmer and wetter climates have enhanced food production in previously drought-prone areas, abrupt and extreme weather phenomena have wrought widespread disruptions in global agricultural outputs, with notable crop failures occurring in Brazil and China’s Henan and Shandong provinces this year. Sun remarked on the dual nature of climate impacts, emphasizing the need for substantial reductions in agricultural inputs like fertilizers as part of the green transition. Consequently, he underscored the necessity for dedicated investment in research and innovation to ensure agricultural output does not diminish amid these reforms. “We must proceed in this direction despite the challenges,” he added. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an authoritative UN body, estimates that the agri-food sector is responsible for one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. Fu Wenge, also a professor at China Agricultural University, noted that the required innovations for facilitating a green transition need not always originate from groundbreaking scientific discoveries; often, modest alterations in management practices can yield considerable benefits. He referred to the university’s Science and Technology Backyard project, which pairs students with smallholder farmers to promote high-yield, environmentally sustainable agricultural practices. Ismahane Elouafi, the executive managing director of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), argued that achieving a green transition necessitates comprehensive innovations across technological, policy, and institutional domains, advocating for collaborative international frameworks. She stated, “The impact of climate change is multiplying every day, and the only way forward for us is to adopt innovation in its broad sense to really transform the agriculture system.” The experts highlighted the importance of increasing food production while minimizing carbon footprints and fostering environmental stewardship. Patrick Caron, the vice-chair of the CGIAR system board, pointed out that humanity has historically expanded food production in response to improved living conditions and evolving consumption patterns. However, he noted the contemporary need to approach production increases with a heightened awareness of environmental sustainability. The occasion also marked World Food Day on October 16, an annual event since 1981 focused on raising awareness about hunger and the importance of food security globally. Notably, China has been cited as a beacon of hope amid rising food insecurity, with ambitious goals to elevate its food production capacity to approximately 700 million metric tons by 2030, up from 695 million tons this year. Elouafi praised China’s efficient practices in boosting productivity while concurrently reducing poverty and hunger, asserting that similar strategic plans could benefit developing nations. China has underscored its commitment to global food security through various initiatives, including emergency food aid and sharing agricultural knowledge and technologies to enhance food production capacity in developing countries. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning noted, “China has provided more funding and experts and undertaken more projects than any other developing country under the framework of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s South-South Cooperation Programme,” and reaffirmed China’s intention to bolster international cooperation aimed at eradicating hunger.
The agri-food sector significantly contributes to global carbon emissions, necessitating a transition towards sustainable practices. Increased global temperatures pose challenges not uniformly understood across various regions, resulting in crop failures and a risk to food security. Innovations and technological advancements are seen as vital in addressing these impacts. Furthermore, major events, such as the WAFI conference, serve as platforms for dialogue on the future of agriculture in light of climate change. Understanding how nations, particularly China as a major food producer, can lead the way in sustainable practices is critical to global food security.
In summation, the call for an innovative green transition in the agri-food sector is imperative to combat the adverse impacts of climate change on food production. Experts advocate for leveraging technological enhancements to mitigate declines in agricultural output due to rising temperatures. Moreover, China’s proactive measures in enhancing food security through technological adoption and international cooperation reinforce its pivotal role. The collective insights from the conference illuminate pathways for achieving sustainability within the agricultural landscape and fostering global collaboration to address food insecurity.
Original Source: news.cau.edu.cn
