Climate Change and Food Security: setting the track for the ... - FAO

- The magnitude of the food security challenge is enormous; for example, 650 million people
depend on rainfed agriculture in Africa, where according to the IPCC, yields may decrease by
50% in some crops and in some areas within 10 years. This is the appropriate framing for the
HLPE study. What are the global responses needed – immediately and in the context of longterm
sustainable development pathways – to protect the most vulnerable?
- The above is also cognizant with a right to food approach, which should help frame the HLPE
study. The most vulnerable groups who are the hungry are smallholders, landless labourers,
pastoralists, fisherfolk and forest users, and the urban poor. Adverse climate change impacts on
these groups are likely to lead to further denial or violation of the right to food.
- The assessment of impacts should also take into account synergistic effects of multiple stresses
that are linked to climate change, e.g. mediated via the relationship of water and temperature.
- Worst-case scenarios should be part of the analysis. The IPCC AR4 tends towards averages
rather than worst-case scenarios. However, for food security policy-making in the face of
uncertainty, policy-makers must have an understanding of the full range of possible futures to
expect.
3. Adaptation to climate change
- Given the severity of the climate threat – at this very moment – in very vulnerable, already
food-insecure regions, this section on adaptation should have highest priority. The HLPE and
CFS should focus its attention on food security, vulnerable populations and adaptation.
- Agroecological approaches, particularly with respect to improving soil structure, water-holding
capacity and fertility, conserving and sustainably using agricultural biodiversity, and traditional
water harvesting and water management practices should be essential elements to be reviewed
under possible adaptation responses. Concurrent positive impacts for productivity and food
security should be highlighted.
- Focus should also be given to small-holder and subsistence farmers, not only because they are
more vulnerable, but also because their local knowledge and practices have adaptation value.
Mechanisms to reach small-holder and subsistence agriculturalists with information about
seasonal weather changes generated through early-warning systems are essential.
- The public sector has an important role to play and it should actually be given much more
prominent consideration than the private sector. Consideration should also be given to public
sector adaptation strategies that can ensure the food security of the most vulnerable, including
safety nets and risk management strategies.
- There is a need to review agricultural research needs for long-term adaptation challenges.
4. Climate change mitigation
- Agriculture is a major source of GHG emissions. The IPCC reports are the starting point and the
work need not be duplicated.
- The IPCC has reviewed mitigation options. What should be looked at in more detail is the IPCC
finding that there is little mitigation potential for methane and nitrous oxide reductions. There is
need for more critical assessment of this conclusion that takes into consideration: 1) the
potential for agroecological approaches to reduce use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers; 2) the
possibility for changing consumption patterns to shift demand from cattle to less GHG intensive
animals such as sheep, pigs and chickens; and 3) methane emission reductions that can be
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Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition
http://km.fao.org/fsn
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