COP28 in focus: Rise in agroecology and alternatives to inflated food production

05 Dec 2023 --- The concept of “sustainable intensification” says it is possible to pump up global farming outputs, while scaling methods that curb the environmental toll of the agri-food industry. This belief is backed by agricultural stakeholders and institutes at the ongoing COP28 held in Dubai but opposing eco-activists argue this approach largely ignores evidence that world hunger is caused by disproportionate access and entitlement to produce rather than its availability, putting forward the question — how much more food do we really need?

Speaking to Food Ingredients First, Edward Mukiibi, president of Slow Food, a global coalition advocating for locally farmed produce, addresses the messaging taking place at the conference.

“Major food and farming corporations are seeking to steer conversations in Dubai via an influential coalition: the AIM for Climate (Aim4C) initiative. Spearheaded by the US and United Arab Emirates, Aim4C is showcasing US$13 billion worth of joint projects — or ‘innovation sprints’ — which feature many high-tech ‘climate-smart’ solutions that are favored by industry, and include some dubious technologies unproven at scale,” he argues.

Slow Food suggests the concept of “agroecology” is an alternative, more “holistic” approach compared to sustainable intensification.“Alongside ‘sustainable intensification,’ the following terms, ‘regenerative agriculture,’ ‘nature-based solutions,’ ‘climate neutrality,’ ‘emissions intensity’ and ‘efficiency,’ will also be in the back pockets of lobbyists, who doubled in number year on year in 2022, as an analysis by DeSmog revealed, and are expected to show up in force in the COP28 talks.”

Leaning on holistic farming approaches
Slow Food suggests the concept of “agroecology” is an alternative, more “holistic” approach compared to sustainable intensification. It argues sustainability is often defined too narrowly, neglecting its vital social and economic elements, for example, livelihoods, equity, social justice and economic viability.

As the word suggests, agroecology considers the bigger ecosystem our food system is a part of.

“The agroecological method is polycultural and multifunctional, meaning it involves the cultivation of different plants in the same soil, in a mutually beneficial combination,” explains Mukiibi.

“Certain plants can be grown alongside crops to protect them from pests, promote their growth, or provide cover that shields the soil from drying out and lower plants from harsh weather conditions,” he adds.

While many companies view biodiversity as a secondary sustainability goal, agroecology recognizes biodiversity as part of its foundation for resilient agricultural systems.

“Agroecology involves no use of synthetic chemicals, because of the significant role played by the interaction between plant and animal resources,” says Mukiibi. “Agroecological systems incorporate social systems, such as direct cooperation between producers and consumers.”

“On the effectiveness of agroecological farming, its success is demonstrated by a multitude of case studies. The evidence could be even greater if agroecology got more research and public funding,” he notes.

“It is estimated that only 2% has been allocated to it. Despite the scarcity of resources, there is substantial evidence that this approach can lead to improvements in food security.”

Last month, the European Parliament rejected the Commission’s proposal to curb pesticide use around Europe.Untapped potential of shifting approach
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that adopting agroecological farming practices could reduce emissions by 2.8%to 4.1 GtCO2e per year — equivalent to 6.8% — which is 10% of 2021 global energy-related emissions.

It also advises that agroecology will help maintain productive and equitable food systems underpinning adaptation to temperature rises already locked in. 

Most Paris Agreement signatories have committed to significantly increasing agroecological farming practices, major reductions in fertilizer and pesticide use and pollution, and phasing out pesticides classified as “highly hazardous” in agriculture.

Last month, the European Parliament rejected the Commission’s proposal to curb pesticide use around Europe. This came a week after the allowed use of the contentious chemical pesticide glyphosate was extended for ten more years in the 27-nation bloc.

“While these commitments have been made in complementary UN agreements, including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the new Global Framework on Chemicals, the social, biodiversity and climate mitigation and adaptation co-benefits of such reforms are undeniable,” states the European Commission.

Author Raj Patel writes in Scientific America: “More than eight million farmer groups around the world are experimenting and discovering that, compared with conventional agriculture, agroecology is able to sequester more carbon in the soil, use water more sparingly, reduce dependence on external inputs by recycling nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, and promote, rather than destroy, biodiversity in the soil and on farms.”

“And across continents, research shows that farmers who adopt agroecology have greater food security, higher incomes, better health and lower debt levels.”

In other COP28 related coverage, Food Ingredients First reported on food rating company How Good’s partnership with SES-imagotag, a global specialist in electronic shelf tags, to provide eco-footprint digital shelf tags for 2,500 Carrefour supermarket products throughout the United Arab Emirates during the conference.

By Benjamin Ferrer