FAO’s call for agrifood systems transformation resounds at UN Biodiversity COP16 in Colombia | FAO News

Cali, Colombia – The Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concluded its impactful participation in the 2024 UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP16) in Cali, Colombia, where its central message—agrifood systems play a critical role in achieving biodiversity goals—reverberated throughout the two-week event.

The conference, themed “Peace with Nature”, marked a pivotal moment in the global endeavor to safeguard biodiversity & address the interconnected challenges of biodiversity loss, climate change, & sustainable development.  

The FAO delegation, led by Director of Cabinet Godfrey Magwenzi, actively engaged in numerous events & discussions, emphasizing the importance of agrifood systems solutions in delivering on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). FAO’s consistent message throughout the conference was clear: transforming agrifood systems is not just an option but a necessity for achieving a sustainable & biodiverse planet.

According to its hosts, COP16 saw record breaking attendance with almost 8 000 people a day in the Blue Zone, reserved for official negotiators & delegations, while as of 28 October more than 527 000 people had visited the Green Zone, a space to encourage the participation of civil society, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, & all those interested in the protection & conservation of biological diversity.

Key messages amplified

FAO’s presence at COP16 underscored its commitment to building resilient agrifood systems that contribute to the conservation, restoration & sustainable use of biodiversity, climate change adaptation & mitigation, & improved food security & nutrition. To effectively address these challenges, solutions need to be prioritized across multilateral environmental agreements, receive increased financial & technical support, & be fully integrated into national planning processes. This requires scaling up agrifood systems solutions through enabling policies, innovation, & technologies that reach smallholder farmers & producers, ensuring an equitable, inclusive, & gender-responsive transformation. 

COP16 itself served as a critical platform for governments to take stock of national target-setting for biodiversity & kickstart the implementation of the KMGBF.

FAO highlighted its technical assistance to countries in developing & implementing National Biodiversity Strategies & Action Plans (NBSAPs) to effectively integrate biodiversity considerations into agrifood policies & practices.

FAO’s COP16 event highlights

High-level ministerial luncheon: A call to action

FAO co-organized a high-level ministerial event with the Colombian Presidency & the CBD Secretariat, represented by Her Excellency Martha Carvajalino, Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development of Colombia & Ms. Astrid Schomaker, CBD Executive Secretary. At the event, Director of Cabinet Godfrey Magwenzi launched the Agri-NBSAPs Support Initiative, which aims to accelerate the integration of biodiversity into agrifood sectors through targeted assistance to countries in aligning their NBSAPs with the KMGBF targets.

More than 60 countries, represented by more than 25 Ministers & several high-level representatives, discussed the development & implementation of their NBSAPs, emphasizing the need for an integrated approach to achieve the successful implementation of KMGBF by 2030.  

The Agri-NBSAPs Support Initiative is a comprehensive program designed to support countries in integrating biodiversity considerations into their agricultural policies & practices. It aims to:

• enhance policy coherence & institutional capacity to support sustainable agrifood systems;
• enhance biodiversity & sustainability in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, & aquaculture for food security & nutrition;  
• improve financial incentives & investments for promoting market development; &
• build knowledge & capacity for improved implementation, monitoring, & reporting of NBSAPs.  

Spotlight on thematic days including Food Day:

FAO co-hosted Food Day together with the CBD Secretariat, Ministry of Environment & Sustainable Development & Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development of the Government of Colombia, shining a spotlight on the intricate link between biodiversity & food security underlining how biodiversity is the foundation of food security & nutrition. The event served as a platform to explore practical & scalable solutions for transforming agrifood systems to support biodiversity & put food producers at the center of discussions.  

In line with the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, FAO also co-organized Restoration Day, focusing on the urgent actions needed to achieve Target 2 of the KMGBF, which aims to bring 30 percent of degraded ecosystems under effective restoration. This involved the launch of the Resource Guide on Target 2, designed to help countries translate their restoration plans into tangible actions. The event showcased critical tools for setting restoration targets, developing implementation plans, & monitoring diverse ecosystems like forests, grasslands, peatlands, & marine systems.

FAO actively participated in Forests & Water Day, emphasizing the conservation, restoration, & sustainable use of forests & water-related ecosystems for the successful implementation of the KMGBF.   Among other activities, FAO organized an event highlighting the often-overlooked role of fishers as stewards of marine biodiversity & their invaluable contributions to the KMGBF targets.

Celebrating Colombia’s commitment

A special event was held to celebrate Colombia’s ratification of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food & Agriculture, marking a significant step towards promoting sustainable agriculture & food security.  

In addition to the thematic days & High-Level Events, FAO led & participated in over 75 official & main events in the Blue & Green Zones. Through its Colombia Office, FAO supported the participation of several rural producer association representatives to the Green Zone, where they presented their products.

Publications & initiatives

FAO launched several other key publications & initiatives at COP16, including:

• Delivering on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework through agrifood systems: This publication highlights the links between the KMGBF targets & agrifood systems, providing guidance on how to achieve the framework’s objectives through sustainable agriculture.  
• Bridging nature & climate through protection of primary forests with high ecological integrity: This briefing focuses on the important role of primary forests in meeting climate & biodiversity goals. It also explains science-based principles relevant to policy pathways for protecting, restoring, & sustainably managing these forests.
• Biodiversity Impacts of Nationally Determined Contributions Actions in Agrifood Systems: This brief examines how climate actions in agrifood systems can impact biodiversity & how to identify synergies & co-benefits between these interconnected areas.

Other publications included a series demonstrating how FAO works with the Global Environment Facility to access investment resources.

A word of gratitude to Colombia

FAO expressed its gratitude to the Government of Colombia for hosting COP16 & for its commitment to integrating biodiversity considerations into its agricultural policies. Their successful ratification of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food & Agriculture was also acknowledged as a significant stride towards promoting sustainable agriculture & food security.  

FAO & Colombia advocated for a global transition towards sustainable agrifood systems that benefit both people & the planet, highlighting FAO’s collaborative work in Colombia with the Green Climate Fund, the Global Environment Facility & other partners. Acknowledging the need for substantial investment & policy support to implement these changes broadly, they urged countries to pay particular attention to targets related to agrifood systems in NBSAPs.

In that context, Kaveh Zahedi, Director of the FAO Office for Climate, Biodiversity & Environment, highlighted that sustainable agrifood systems are crucial for achieving harmony between humanity & nature, & stressed the need to incorporate biodiversity considerations into agricultural policies & practices, recognizing the inseparable link between food security & the sustainable use of biodiversity.

Continuing the momentum

FAO’s active & impactful participation at COP16 served as a powerful testament to its commitment, in line with its mandate, to working together with Members & partners in transforming global agrifood systems to be more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient & more sustainable to achieve the ambitious goals of the KMGBF & in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

This concerted effort is essential to contribute to a more sustainable & biodiverse planet, ensuring food security, improving nutrition, & promoting sustainable agriculture for the benefit of present & future generations. The momentum generated at COP16 will continue to the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Azerbaijan & the UN Convention to Combat Desertification Conference (COP16) in Saudi Arabia, fueling FAO’s ongoing work in agrifood systems transformation & achieving the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment & a better life – leaving no one behind.