COP 29: reflections and the road to Belém
As expected by most countries and organizations, COP 29, although very well organized, did not bring significant advances to the climate agenda. Despite this, the event reinforced the importance of continuing to work together and highlighted that global attention is now focused on COP 30, which will take place in 2025, in Belém. More than a pause, this break represents an opportunity: we have a year to work hard, strengthen alliances and ensure that necessary solutions, such as alternative proteins, gain the prominence they deserve. Even though the results of COP 29 fell short of expectations, the strengthening of the global community focused on food and climate is a step forward that cannot be ignored. Today, we are more aligned and prepared to move forward with this conversation, both at the COP and in other strategic spaces. This collective strength will be essential to ensure that, in Belém, the focus is on the urgency of transforming food systems and redirecting resources towards solutions with the greatest possible positive impact. Progress and challenges of COP 29 The main result of this edition was the agreement to allocate US$300 billion annually to climate finance by 2030. Although far from the US$1,3 trillion initially demanded by countries in the Global South, the figure represents an important direction. The final text, however, mentions food only once, stressing that mitigation and adaptation measures to be implemented must not put food production at risk, but fails to provide details on how funding will be directed towards sustainable food systems. Furthermore, rural producers and small farmers, considered vulnerable groups, were not mentioned in the final document, which was criticized by civil society. Next year, the debate will focus on the so-called “Road from Baku to Bethlehem”, with the challenge of transforming the annual US$300 billion into a total of US$1,3 trillion. This scaling will require diversifying financing sources, mobilizing not only public resources, but also private investments, international partnerships and innovative mechanisms. This integrated approach will be essential to ensure that climate solutions are robust and effective. GFI Brazil is committed to presenting projects that demonstrate the positive impact of alternative food systems, especially in economies of the Global South. We will build on lessons learned from previous COPs to propose practical solutions and expand opportunities for climate finance. Another highlight of this edition was the Declaration on Methane, which generated controversy by focusing exclusively on emissions from organic waste, responsible for around 18% of global methane emissions, while completely ignoring livestock, which contributes approximately 40%. More than 30 countries have committed to including targets for reducing methane from organic waste in their future NDCs, but this approach reflects a resistance to directly addressing the environmental impact of animal product production – and reinforces the need for organizations like GFI to step up the debate on scalable solutions in the food industry. Additionally, the Sharm el-Sheikh Joint Work on Agriculture (SSJWA) has launched an online portal for sharing projects related to agriculture and food security, with the potential to attract investment and facilitate the scaling up of climate initiatives in agriculture. This tool, under development since COP 27, seeks to integrate a broader and more inclusive approach to food systems, which encompasses multiple sectors of the economy and all links in the food production and consumption chain. GFI Brazil will continue to work alongside negotiators and partners to present successful projects and seek resources that expand the impact of initiatives aligned with this agenda. This work is essential to ensure that food systems are prioritized in future climate discussions, especially in the “Road from Baku to Belém” that will unfold until COP 30 in Brazil. Finally, the Baku Harmoniya Climate Initiative for Farmers was launched, which seeks to harmonize existing programs and integrate farmers, especially women and rural communities, into food-related climate actions. Although the proposal is very promising for building inclusive and sustainable climate solutions, its operationalization still needs to be detailed, and we will closely monitor its developments. Opportunities in the Brazilian NDC During COP 29, Brazil, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates presented updates of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). In the case of Brazil, the NDC review is associated with the Climate Plan and its sectoral plans, scheduled for completion by March 2025. There is a growing expectation that the final versions will be more inclusive and ambitious. GFI Brazil sees this review as a crucial opportunity to integrate policies that encourage sustainable food production, especially proteins for human consumption, as part of a food strategy more aligned with climate challenges. Incorporating specific targets for food systems will be essential to position Brazil as a leader in sustainable solutions, contributing significantly to the mitigation of global emissions. A positive path for Belém The greatest legacy of COP 29 is not in the final texts or the commitments made, but in the strengthening of a more united global food and climate community determined to face climate challenges. This alignment will be essential to ensure that, at COP 30, food systems are at the center of discussions. Throughout COPs 27, 28 and 29, GFI Brazil collaborated with several partners to consolidate the food systems agenda at the center of climate negotiations. The next challenge is to transform this connection into concrete climate actions, presenting robust projects that demonstrate the positive impact of new ways of producing proteins as a viable, scalable and strategic solution in the fight against climate change. COP 30 will be a unique opportunity to advance this agenda. With strategic planning, resource mobilization, and strengthened partnerships, we are confident that Belém has the potential to generate structural changes in the global climate agenda. Belém awaits us, and with it, the chance to transform the potential of alternative proteins into concrete and lasting solutions for a more sustainable future.
Participate in the Public Hearing on Contemporary Food Systems at the Joint Committee on Climate Change
On December 10th, at 12:14 pm, the Joint Committee on Climate Change will bring together representatives, senators, experts, and civil society for a public hearing on contemporary food systems. We will discuss the fundamental and strategic role of Contemporary Food Systems, focusing on alternative proteins and current challenges such as food security, socioeconomic development, climate change mitigation, the 30 Agenda, and NDCs. Regulatory measures will also be presented to ensure legal certainty, competitiveness, and the full development of this new sector. Participate: the hearing can be watched live on the Senate's YouTube page or on the committee's own page. It will also be recorded on these channels.
NYC Climate Week: Impact of food systems takes center stage at COP prep event
With a focus on “plant-rich” diets, the 2024 edition reinforces the urgency of integrating food into global climate strategies. New York Climate Week, held annually in September, parallel to the UN General Assembly, brings together leaders from governments, companies, academics, NGOs and civil society representatives to discuss climate solutions. The 2024 edition, which took place between September 22nd and 29th, featured for the first time a day entirely dedicated to discussions about diets with fewer animal products, called “Food Day”. Held on the second day of the conference, the event brought together more than a thousand participants to discuss the relationship between food systems and climate change, with panels led by representatives of organizations such as the Brazilian Vegetarian Society, PAN and the Humane Society. The central approach of Food Day was the concept of “plant-rich diet”, which can be translated as “diet rich in vegetables”, suggesting that foods of plant origin be prioritized in the composition of the diet. This perspective seeks to promote sustainable food choices in an inclusive and comprehensive way, avoiding restrictive labels and contemplating a greater diversity of diets. Climate Week has established itself as a preparatory event for the COP and serves as a platform to review sustainability goals and align efforts, preparing the ground for the formal commitments that will be discussed at the United Nations Climate Change Conference. Many of the issues discussed this week, such as decarbonization, climate finance and food systems, are the same ones that will guide negotiations at the COP, making this meeting a valuable opportunity to assess global progress and set the tone for future climate action. GFI was actively present at Climate Week, with representatives from around the world participating in panels and co-hosting events to reinforce alternative proteins as the viable climate solution they have proven to be. Recently, the study “Recipe for a Livable Planet”, published by the World Bank, positioned these foods as one of the most promising strategies for mitigating climate change: when analyzing 26 interventions in the agri-food sector, the publication concluded that alternative proteins occupy the second position in terms of potential for reducing emissions, behind only reforestation, with the capacity to reduce up to 6,1 billion tons of CO2 annually – which is equivalent to taking approximately 1,3 billion cars off the road globally during the same period. However, despite food systems contributing 33% of global emissions, they still receive only 3% of climate investment, 22 times less than that received by the energy and transport sectors, for example. Therefore, one of the focuses of Climate Week was the inclusion of food systems in global climate strategies, such as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). They are the commitments that each country establishes autonomously to achieve the targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as stipulated in the Paris Agreement. These commitments reflect each nation's goals and strategies to combat climate change and are reviewed periodically. At COP 28, a major step forward was the inclusion of food systems and agriculture in the Global Stocktake, a report reviewed every five years that assesses global progress towards the goals of the Paris Agreement. For the first time, the need to increase sustainable food production and strengthen the resilience of food systems was mentioned. Although these mentions are still timid, they paved the way for the topic to be addressed more robustly in future COPs and other international instruments. GFI Brazil's public policy team has been working to integrate food systems into national NDCs, promoting alignment between the agri-food sector and the country's climate goals. And, with COP 30 scheduled to take place in 2025 in Belém (PA), the expectation is that Brazil can assume a leadership role in this agenda, including food systems in the NDCs and forming coalitions between governments, companies and civil society organizations to accelerate a sustainable food transition. Food Day also saw the launch of Tilt Collective, a global initiative that works with research, project funding and strategic communication to address the impacts of intensive agriculture and accelerate the transition to diets that prioritize plant-based foods. In the panel, Zenia Stampe, Danish MEP and leader of the parliament's agriculture committee, presented the new legislation being passed in the country that introduces taxes on meat production. She said a third of Denmark's emissions come from agriculture – in line with global figures – and the farmers' association supported the government's programme to increase the focus on plant-based production rather than livestock. Stampe explained that rural producers receive public funding to produce more vegetables and that, in this process, they have stopped suffering from several recurring problems linked to animal husbandry. Gus Guadagnini, president of GFI Brazil, was present at the debate and highlighted that this is an important lesson for our country: “the modernization of agricultural practices can bring direct benefits to rural producers, as long as there is an investment committed to social issues and a fair transition for plant production. To transform food systems, it is essential to empower and provide the necessary resources to farmers, allowing them to be protagonists of this change. This becomes even more crucial in Brazil, where the cattle herd reached a historic record, with more than 238 million head of cattle in 2023, showing that we urgently need to balance our production practices with the growing global demand for more sustainable food.” The president of GFI Brazil also reinforces that the path to a sustainable future inevitably involves transforming how we produce and consume our food: “the food systems agenda only began to be debated in 2022, at the COP in Egypt. Since then, it has been gaining more focus, commitment from countries, engagement from the international community, funding sources for the sector, and even days.
Brazil presents the world's first bill promoting food production through cell culture
For a GFI expert, the project is a global legislative milestone and could put the country at the forefront of this market. In a historic milestone for innovation and sustainability in the food sector, Congressman Jorge Goetten (REPUBLIC/SC) presented Bill (PL) 3357/2024 in the Chamber of Deputies, which “establishes general standards for the research, production, reproduction, import, export, transportation, storage, conservation and commercialization of foods obtained through cell culture, their derivatives and by-products, as well as for the incentive to research and productive development in this sector” . The Good Food Institute (GFI), one of the leading global organizations dedicated to the advancement of alternative proteins, celebrated the presentation of the project as a fundamental step towards placing Brazil as a global leader in this emerging market. “This is a legislative milestone in the country and in the world. It is the first bill focused on encouraging this technology, and it guarantees the development of research and solutions to feed the population with significantly reduced environmental impacts. It is a milestone because it is based on scientific evidence that goes beyond the 'fear of the new' and, thus, fosters development in our universities and industries and, at the same time, guarantees all the necessary safety standards for consumers”, highlighted Gabriela Garcia, Public Policy Analyst at GFI Brazil. With the potential to transform the food industry, cell culture allows the production of meat without the need for slaughter, using fewer natural resources and emitting fewer greenhouse gases. It is a sustainable way to complement the existing supply, becoming an important tool for food security. According to the GFI analyst, this “is a sector that will inevitably exist and grow, and Brazil has all the capacity to lead this market on a global level”. Now, the Bill will continue its progress in the Chamber of Deputies and the next step will be for the Speaker of the House, Congressman Arhur Lira, to send it for analysis in the Committees, where a rapporteur will be appointed to prepare an opinion on the content of the proposal. After this stage, the bill will still have to be submitted for consideration by the Plenary and, if approved, will be reviewed by the Federal Senate before it can become Law. Gabriela Garcia believes that it will be “a long road of debates in the National Congress, but now opening space and forming a “common ground” of knowledge based on science”. For her, as the National Congress advances in the discussions, Brazilian society will have the opportunity to shape the future of the global food system, with positive impacts on sustainability, food security and environmental protection. The GFI, according to the analyst, will follow “with a magnifying glass” all debates on the subject.
GFI Brazil advocates financing for alternative proteins at the Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany
Between June 3 and 13, The Good Food Institute participated in the Climate Change Conference in Bonn (SB 60), an event that addresses the main issues that will be the focus of COP 29, which will take place at the end of the year in Baku, Azerbaijan. With a focus on the scientific and technical aspects of climate negotiations and the implementation of climate agreements, SB 60 enables observers of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – such as The Good Food Institute – to actively participate in discussions and interact personally with delegates from around the world. “Just like last year, we participated in the Bonn Conference to discuss the impacts of food systems on the climate, highlight the importance of alternative proteins as a climate mitigation and adaptation strategy, and advocate for more funding so that the Global South can develop its own actions on the subject,” explained Mariana Bernal, Public Policy Analyst at GFI Brazil. To this end, GFI promoted a side event in partnership with the Alliance for Biodiversity International and CIAT, Proveg International, Coller Foundation (JCF), Humane Society International (HSI) and Changing Markets Foundation (CMF), in order to present the challenges and opportunities in transforming global food systems, based on the diversification of protein sources. The theme was led by experts from Humane Society International Brazil (HSI), Changing Markets Foundation (CMF), Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and YOUNGO. “We were able to follow the agricultural negotiations and learn about the proposals from governments and civil society to help us stay within the 1.5ºC target. At the events we participate in, we present paths for creating policies and strategies for sustainable, inclusive development that reduce the impact of food production on the climate,” summarizes Mariana Bernal. Other areas of progress in Bonn include: New Collective Quantified Target on Climate Finance: Simplification of the content for the New Collective Quantified Target on Climate Finance. Clear options and the substantive structure of a draft decision must be finalized before COP29. A technical expert dialogue was also held to ensure that the New Target is ambitious, well-structured, transparently reported and improves the quality of climate finance for developing countries. Adaptation Indicators: Parties have taken measures towards adaptation indicators that are forward-looking, effective and scientifically sound. International Carbon Market: Progress has been made towards a better functioning international carbon market, but there is still work to be done. Transparency and Climate Action Plans: Parties worked together for transparency and supported each other in planning stronger climate action plans. Progress on Building Resilience and Adaptation: Parties agreed on measures for the Global Goal on Adaptation, which creates thematic targets that highlight forward-looking global priorities. Progress has been made on indicators for each of these thematic targets, which will be inclusive, transparent and scientifically sound. The UNFCCC calls on countries to develop National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) by the end of 2025 and implement them by 2030. Progress Made on International Carbon Markets under Article 6: Important progress has been made on technical aspects of Article 6, including carbon credit authorization, scope of activity, international carbon market registry, and more. An additional workshop will be held to deepen technical work on Article 6 before November. Increasing Transparency: The new COP Presidency has requested Parties to submit their Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) ahead of COP29 in Baku. New Enhanced Transparency Framework reporting toolkits will be delivered soon. Trainings on the new reporting tools will be held ahead of COP29. Raising Ambition in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Parties are expected to deliver their next round of NDCs early next year, aligned with the 1,5°C limit and covering all sectors and greenhouse gases. The NDC 3.0 Navigator has been launched to help Parties develop new NDCs with a focus on implementation. Other Topics and Events: GFI Brazil at SB60 in Bonn: Promoting protein diversification and climate finance GFI was represented by two policy experts during the event in Bonn. In the first week, Sam Lawrence, Vice President of Public Policy at GFI Asia, brought a global perspective to the discussions. In the second week, Mariana Bernal, Public Policy Analyst at GFI Brazil, took the lead, focusing on crucial issues for the Global South. Participation in Bonn was marked by an official side event and a press conference that highlighted the importance of protein diversification and climate finance for a sustainable food future.
Cultivated meat in Brazil in 2024?
Check out GFI Brasil's analysis on the regulation of foods made from cell culture and precision fermentation. On December 18, 2023, Anvisa published Resolution RDC No. 839, which regulates the registration of innovative foods and ingredients, including those from cell culture and fermentation. This regulatory framework, which comes into effect on March 16, 2024, places Brazil in a prominent position internationally, paving the way for attracting investments in sustainable food innovations, and also brings us ever closer to launching products made from these two technologies later this year. The regulation has a broad scope, encompassing safety assessment criteria for all new foods and ingredients, defined as those without a consumption history in the country for at least 25 years. This achieves many of the diverse innovations that food engineering presents to us every day and represents an important step towards regulating Cultivated meat in Brazil. In the regulation, the agency defines all the steps and requirements necessary for companies producing Cultivated meat and its ingredients to present data that guarantees that these products are safe for the consumer. The technical document to be submitted for evaluation by the agency must contain the methods for screening, selection, preparation and maintenance of cell lines, a description of the production process and the composition of the culture medium, and the nutritional composition of the products obtained. "This move by Anvisa indicates that Cultivated meat is safe as food if produced within strict technical standards." In order for companies to start producing in Brazil, it is now up to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock to define the complementary regulations, which include product registration, its labeling rules and the inspection regulations for production units. We hope this will happen throughout 2024, because this market will advance quickly in the world”, says Alysson Soares, senior specialist in Public Policies at GFI Brazil. With the publication of this regulation, Anvisa stands alongside other regulatory agencies, such as EFSA in the European Union, the USDA/FDA partnership in the United States, SFA in Singapore and NFS in Israel, as pioneers in realizing the importance of defining a regulatory framework for Cultivated meat that is based on science and favorable to innovation and investment. The scientific studies developed by the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) over the last two years were of fundamental importance for this positioning of the main global regulatory agencies. Regarding this, the Vice President of Public Policies at GFI Brazil, Alexandre Cabral, adds that “it is very significant that Brazil, one of the most important countries in the global food production scenario, states that Cultivated meat is safe at a time when several countries are taking legislative action to prohibit or limit the advancement of this technology”. GFI Brazil has been promoting this debate in Brazil since 2018, when it promoted the first seminar within the Brazilian government on Cultivated meat. Since then, he has been contributing to the topic in Brazil and abroad, through participation in expert groups and the publication of regulatory and scientific studies.
COP 28: Historic progress and much work ahead
COP 28, which took place in Dubai from November 30 to December 12, ended with historic advances in terms of recognizing the food sector as a strategic focus for climate mitigation and adaptation actions, but there is still a lot of work to be done. What were the main advances? The food systems agenda, which only began to be debated last year at the COP in Egypt, has gained more focus, intensity, commitment from countries, engagement from the international community, sources of financing for the sector and even an entire day dedicated to food and agriculture. This speed is unusual in the world of multilateral organizations, where change happens very slowly. Although it is still not enough to meet the urgency of accelerating the transition to more sustainable food systems in order to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, it is a significant step forward. The launch of three documents focused on food also represented a victory for the sector: Another victory was the inclusion of food systems and agriculture in the Global Stocktake, a document reviewed every 5 years that technically and politically analyzes how we have evolved in relation to the goals of the Paris Agreement and what the new commitments should be. Countries use the document to prepare their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which are the goals that each nation self-determines to fulfill the Agreement's commitments. Mentions include the need to increase sustainable food production and to stimulate resilient food systems, for example. Although timid, this achievement already opens the necessary doors for the subject to be addressed in other official devices in the future, such as NDCs, and for the agenda to receive even more focus in the next editions of the COP. What do we still need to achieve? While we celebrate the progress made, we recognize that there is still a vast field of opportunities to be explored in food systems. The need to expand the discussion around innovations, such as disruptive technologies in the production of alternative proteins, is latent. Furthermore, it is crucial to further examine the environmental and social impacts of animal-based food production. These themes are key elements of a broader spectrum that encompasses changes in diets, sustainable rural practices such as agroecology, among others. Detailing and enriching the debate on all aspects of food systems is essential to fostering significant transformations towards a more sustainable and resilient future. “The rapid evolution in the food systems debate in multilateral organizations is remarkable and unusual. This year, we had an entire day dedicated to this topic, the formalization of a commitment by global leaders and the publication of reports. Furthermore, the inclusion of these systems in Global Stocktake is an important and hard-won milestone, although it may seem modest to outsiders. Despite these advances, it is still necessary to accelerate our efforts, given the urgency of improving the sustainability of food systems and mitigating the impacts caused by the climate crisis on them.” Gustavo Guadagnini, President of GFI Brazil. Next steps In the lead up to COP 29 in Azerbaijan in 2024, GFI will strive to strengthen the Global Coalition for Alternative Proteins (CGPA). Our initial goal is to engage more partners to create a broad and persuasive appeal, both at the grassroots and institutional levels, to promote the alternative protein sector as a viable climate solution. We will be focusing on specific initiatives, such as thematic working groups and strategic partnerships, to ensure that this agenda receives the necessary attention at the next conference. At the same time, the eyes of the global community are already on COP 30, which will take place in Brazil. Expectations are high due to the country's central role in the global climate scenario, a result of its current foreign policy, the symbolic importance of the Amazon and the process of reviewing the Paris agreement. In this last aspect, the event will mark the conclusion of the review process of the NDCs (each country's targets regarding the climate crisis), making COP 30 a crucial milestone in climate negotiations. This conference offers an unparalleled platform to bring critical issues, such as the sustainability of food systems and agriculture, to the center of the debate. This increases the importance of the CGPA already being structured and active. We encourage everyone to join us on this journey towards a more sustainable future and to actively participate in the discussions that will shape our food systems – and our planet – for future generations.
COP28: Brazil and 133 other countries sign unprecedented declaration committing to produce food more sustainably
The declaration is the first of its kind to place food systems at the center of the climate debate. During the event “Transforming Food Systems in the Face of Climate Change”, which took place today, December 1, on the second day of COP12, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action was launched, signed by 28 countries, including Brazil. According to Gus Guadagnini, president of GFI Brazil who participated in the panel, the declaration was an important step towards consolidating the issue of food systems as one of the global priorities in combating the climate emergency. “We are very pleased to see that governments are committing to supporting more of this type of solution. "This is the direction in which GFI works: to bring scalable innovations so that people can maintain their eating habits and traditions, while consuming more sustainable food that does not require as many resources as water and land to produce, nor harm the environment with the emission of polluting gases," Guadagnini celebrated. According to Andy Jarvis, Director of the Future of Food (Bezos Earth Found), this is the first time at a COP that food systems have had this level of visibility. “This declaration endorses that, and now we need nations not only to sign it, but to be courageous and bold in their actions going forward,” Jarvis stated. In 2023, Brazil's Minister of the Environment, Marina Silva, raised Brazil's NDC (Nationally Determined Contributions) commitments to a 48% reduction in emissions by 2025 and a 53% reduction by 2030. The seven sectors covered by the national NDCs include energy, urban mobility, forests, biofuels, solid waste, public lighting and transport, but do not directly mention agriculture, or food systems, for example. “The declaration signed today by Brazil at COP28 brings enthusiasm for the possibility of food systems being a priority issue for the Brazilian government on the road to COP30, which will take place in 2025 in Belém, Pará,” said Guadagnini. At the event, Bill Gates announced a partnership with the United Arab Emirates to invest USD 200 million in innovations for food systems and announced further investments through AIM for Climate, an initiative of the governments of the United States and United Arab Emirates, to finance scalable solutions for the sector. Also participating were leaders such as Mariam Almheiri, Minister of Environment of the United Arab Emirates, Antoine de Saint-Affrique, CEO of Danone, Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia, Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy, Naomi Mata'afa, Prime Minister of Samoa, Anthony John Blinken, US Secretary of State, Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Director of the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers (CGIAR), Roberto S. Waack, President of the Arapyau Institute, Dr. Qu Dongyum, Director-General of FAO (UN), and Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High Level Champion. During the discussions, Antoine de Saint-Affrique reinforced the importance of the private sector in favor of the development of climate solutions for food systems, highlighting the need for scaling up of new technologies and increasing financing for the sector. Furthermore, Roberto S. Waack also cited philanthropy as a catalyst for change and highlighted the relevance of freedom of action. The President of Indonesia addressed the need to transfer cutting-edge technology to countries that need it most, while the Prime Minister of Italy reinforced Italy's commitments to climate change and mentioned that the country supports such initiatives in Africa, but stressed that the continent does not only need charity, but also space to compete equally on the global stage. The Prime Minister of Samoa mentioned the importance of digital integration in the field and the US Secretary of State endorsed that the declaration will be a historic milestone, remembering the environmental disasters of this year, highlighting that, behind the statistics, there are real people suffering from the climate emergency. Here is the full translated statement: We, Heads of State and Government: Recognizing that unprecedented and adverse climate impacts increasingly threaten the resilience of agriculture and food systems, as well as the ability of many, especially the most vulnerable, to produce and access food in the face of rising hunger, malnutrition and economic stress; Recognizing the profound potential of agriculture and food systems to drive powerful and innovative responses to climate change and enable shared prosperity for all; Emphasizing the need to progressively realize the right to adequate food in the context of national food security, as well as the need to ensure access to safe, sufficient, affordable and nutritious food for all; Noting that agriculture and food systems are fundamental to the lives and livelihoods of billions of people, including smallholder farmers, family farmers, fishers and other food producers and workers; Observing the essential role of international and multilateral cooperation, including South-South and Triangular cooperation, financial and financing institutions, trade, and non-governmental organizations in responding to climate change; Reaffirming our respective collective and individual commitments to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, and the Sharm El Sheikh Joint Work on implementing climate action in agriculture and food security; also considering the UN Food Systems Summit; Recalling also the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, recognizing that they are the main international and intergovernmental forums for negotiating the global response to climate change; Recalling the conclusions of the recent assessments by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and considering the Synthesis Report of the technical dialogues concerning the First Global Stock Assessment (GST); we emphasize that any path to fully achieving the objectives...
COP28: Food systems must be at the heart of the climate debate
GFI to Present Global Coalition for Alternative Proteins The Good Food Institute (GFI) will participate in COP 28, the United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) taking place in Dubai, from November 30 to December 12, 2023. GFI will be present to discuss with world leaders strategies to reduce the impact of food systems on the worsening climate crisis, presenting alternative proteins as a viable solution to this challenge. In total, the organization will be present at at least 40 events, whether as a speaker, moderator, co-organizer, or attendee. Among the GFI experts participating in the program are the global president of GFI, Bruce Friedrich, the president of GFI Brazil, Gustavo Guadagnini, as well as representatives of the organization in Asia and the United States. During the two-week conference, the GFI also intends to present a proposal for a Global Coalition for Alternative Proteins, aiming to unite the efforts of governments, companies, organizations, academia and other sectors of society in creating actions to strengthen alternative proteins as a strategy to mitigate the effects of the environmental crisis on agriculture and reduce the current impacts of food systems on the climate. Alternative proteins should be incorporated into the food sector as one of the solutions to the climate crisis. Understand why: Since COP21 in 2015, COPs have been focusing on how to implement the Paris Agreement, which has three main objectives: to keep the increase in global average temperature below 2°C and to join efforts to limit the increase to 1,5°C above pre-industrial levels; to adapt to climate change and build resilience; and to align financial flows with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate-resilient development. Food production is the main contributor to GHG emissions (34%) and animal protein production alone generates half of this amount. Although livestock farming occupies 77% of the world's agricultural land, animal meat provides only 18% of humanity's food supply and 37% of the protein in the human diet. Therefore, alternative proteins are a more sustainable option. Its adoption is capable of offering 14% to 20% of the emissions mitigation that the planet needs by 2050. Furthermore, according to a report by the Boston Consulting Group, if plant-based proteins and Cultivated meats represent 11% of all protein consumption by 2035, it is possible to reduce 0,85 gigatons of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) worldwide by 2030, which is equivalent to decarbonizing virtually all civil aviation. Despite its relevance, the role of the food sector in the climate emergency was only presented for the first time at COP 27, which took place last year in Egypt. The edition featured the Food System Pavilion, a coordinated effort by a coalition of 9 organizations, including the GFI, with the aim of raising this issue in the most important place in international climate negotiations. Many of the events in Dubai will be broadcast online. To follow, simply access the event's official agenda or GFI Brasil's Instagram. Check out our schedule: Sunday, December 3 UNFCCC official Side event – Unleashing the Power of Alternative Proteins for Climate Resilience and Food Security Time: 15:00-16:30 UAE (9:00-9:30 BRT) Location: Room 9 Moderator: Gustavo Guadadnini, President of GFI Brazil Speakers: Vinod Kumar, Managing Director of String Bio; Alessandro Cruvinel, Chief Innovation Officer of the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock; Tasneem Karodia, Co-Founder and COO of Newform Foods; Kafilat Oyebola, Co-founder of VeggieVictory Event broadcast link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3kOrf_PTzw Tuesday, December 5 Shining a light on and scaling climate solutions Time: 10:30-11:15 UAE (3:30-4:15 BRT) Location: Climate Action Innovation Zone Address: Madinat Jumeirah – King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud St – Al Sufouh 1 – Dubai – United Arab Emirates Speakers: Mariana Bernal, Policy Analyst at GFI Brazil; Joshua Amponsem, Co-Director of the Youth Climate Justice Fund; Tessa Ferry, Leader of Race to Zero; Johan Falk, CEO of the Exponential Roadmap Initiative; Kaya Axelsson, Policy Director at Oxford Net Zero; Ragy Ramadan, Founder and CEO of NoorNation Wednesday, December 6 The Food Systems Transition and its Implications for the Environment, Consumption and Public Health (event in Portuguese) Time: 9:00-10:15 UAE (2:00-3:15 BRT) Location: Brazil Pavilion, Blue Zone Event co-hosted by GFI: The Food Systems Transition and its Implications for the Environment, Consumption and Public Health Moderator: Maurício Alcântara, Co-founder of Instituto Regenera Speakers: Juliana Tângari, Director of Instituto Comida do Amanhã; Puyr Tembé, Secretary of Indigenous Peoples of the State of Pará; Raquel Santiago, Associate Professor at the Federal University of Goiás and Coordinator of the Latin American Hub for Planetary Health; Laura Lamonica, Executive Manager at Coalizão Brasil. Link to the event broadcast: https://apexbrasil.com.br/content/apexcop/br/pt/home/agenda.html Sunday, December 10 Unlocking the agri-food system transformation: Aligning regenerative farming with sustainable food choices Time: 11:15-12:00 UAE (4:15-5:00 BRT) Location: Food4Climate Pavilion Speaker: President of GFI Brazil, Gus Guadagnini; others to be confirmed Sunday, December 10 Sustainable Snacking for Future Champions Time: 15:05-15:55 UAE (8:05-8:55 BRT) Location: Children and Youth Pavilion Speakers: Mariana Bernal, Public Policy Analyst at GFI Brazil; Sara Merhi, board member of ProVeg Youth; Perran Harvey, global policy leader at Upfield; Juliette Tronchon, public policy specialist at ProVeg International; Nanine Wyma, director of PAN International (not confirmed); Xananine Calvillo, member of Stop Financing Factory Farming
Largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, food system must be the focus of climate crisis containment
The next 6 years will define whether humanity will be able to meet the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1,5ºC. Gustavo Guadagnini, President of GFI Brasil. September 2023 was a month marked by extreme weather events: in just 12 days, ten countries were hit by typhoons, floods, storms, heat waves and cyclones. In the northern hemisphere, temperature records were recorded between the months of June and August. Brazil had its hottest winter in 61 years, with extratropical cyclones in Rio Grande do Sul and 150 dead dolphins in the Amazon, after Lake Tefé and the Lower Solimões reached 40ºC. According to the European Copernicus Observatory, 2023 is expected to be the hottest year in history. Climate catastrophes have always occurred, but as our world warms, these extreme events – which used to occur years, sometimes decades, apart – are becoming increasingly frequent and intense. Most countries do not have the structure to deal with these disasters and this results in hundreds of thousands of deaths, homeless people and climate refugees around the world. Governments need to prepare to improve their response capacity to these situations, but it is equally urgent that actions are taken not only to adapt, but also to mitigate the effects of the climate crisis. This is why international climate treaties and agreements have come into existence: without goals and commitments to be established and fulfilled by all countries, no single action will be sufficient for a positive climate impact. The Paris Agreement was signed in 2015 with the main objective of not allowing the planet to warm beyond 2°C by the end of the 21st century and represented a major shift in climate negotiations by creating a universal approach to achieving collective goals with a mechanism for monitoring global progress. Each signatory country has self-defined short- to medium-term targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, called Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), which must be updated – to more ambitious targets – every five years starting in 2020. Collectively, NDCs demonstrate how close or far the world is from achieving climate goals. The first generation of NDCs, which were part of the initial adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015, reflected an aggregate reduction in the global average temperature target to 3,7°C. The second generation, updated in 2020 for more ambitious targets, reduced this value to 2,7ºC, still insufficient. Brazil The 2015 Brazilian NDC established that Brazil should reduce its emissions by 37% by 2025 and 43% by 2030 compared to 2005 emissions. In 2021, these targets were increased to 50% reduction by 2030 and, recently, Minister Marina Silva raised Brazil's emission reduction commitments to 48% by 2025 and to 53% by 2030. The seven sectors covered by the national NDC include energy, urban mobility, forests, biofuels, solid waste, public lighting and transport. As can be seen, food systems, more specifically agriculture, do not appear as a strategic focus, and the same is true for many other countries. It is a strategic mistake not to place food systems at the center of the climate debate. The current food system is responsible for 34% of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and more efficient ways of producing food, especially protein, need to be found. This is because the production of animal protein alone generates more than half of the total emissions in the food system. Furthermore, livestock farming occupies 77% of the world's agricultural land. Yet animal meat provides only 18% of humanity's food supply and 37% of the protein in the human diet – the rest comes from plant foods. The agricultural sector is also responsible for more than 90% of global water consumption, and 41% of this is used for irrigation and the growth of grains for feed and pasture for cattle, pigs and chickens. The IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report, compiled by the world's leading experts and scientists and released in 2021, states that even if fossil fuels were eliminated overnight, emissions from the food system alone would prevent the Paris Agreement from being met. Therefore, diversifying agricultural activity is a solution with an exceptionally high impact on the global climate crisis. In practice, this involves freeing up land and resources such as water for activities that are highly beneficial to the planet and that can also be profitable for agribusiness. We are talking about bioeconomy, agroforestry, and regenerative agriculture, for example. A production system based on these practices is capable of providing diverse foods, industrial inputs, energy, and reforestation resources in the same space. food, fiber, wood and even energy, thus increasing productivity. The environmental impact is also considerable. According to EOS DATA ANALYTICS, this system can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 to 30% and sequester around 8 tons of CO2 per hectare each year. Alternative proteins are also one of the biggest bets in mitigating the climate crisis. According to a report by the Boston Consulting Group, if plant-based, cultivated and fermented proteins account for 11% of all protein consumption by 2035, we can reduce 0,85 gigatons of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) worldwide by 2030, which is equivalent to decarbonizing 95% of the aviation industry. Furthermore, any significant shift in the global diet towards more alternative proteins will have an immediate cooling effect on the planet, as animal agriculture is responsible for up to 50% of methane emissions, which has a much higher warming potential than CO2 and a much shorter atmospheric lifetime. Consequently, reducing methane levels in the atmosphere would not only prevent further warming, but would also have a cooling effect on Earth. although