Held in 2023, the planet’s hottest year on record, COP28 has been heralded for its strong focus on food systems, which are simultaneously threatened by and contribute to climate change. The COP28 Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action, albeit non-binding, but endorsed by almost 160 countries, emphasizes the transformative potential of agriculture and food systems in responding to climate change and ensuring global food security.

Insufficient climate finance represents a significant barrier to achieving climate-resilient and low-emission food systems. Given that smallholders produce the majority of the global food supply, special attention to their finance needs is critical.

As the fifth policy seminar in the CGIAR series on Strengthening Food Systems Resilience, this virtual event will take stock of food systems–related outcomes from COP28 and outline priorities for advancing them at both the international and country level in a concrete and meaningful manner.

Please join a distinguished set of speakers from CGIAR, international organizations, and the policy community for this discussion on advancing both adaptation and mitigation of food systems, which will place a particular focus on climate finance and policy priorities.

Taking Stock of COP28 Outcomes

• Felicitas Röhrig, Senior Policy Officer, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
• Aditi Mukerji, Director, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Impact Action Platform of the CGIAR
• Kristofer Hamel, Head, Food Systems, COP28 Presidency; UAE Climate Change Special Envoy

Advancing on Climate Change Finance

• Geeta Sethi, Advisor and Global Lead for Food Systems, World Bank
• Johan Swinnen, Managing Director, Systems Transformation, CGIAR; Director General, IFPRI

Country level Policy Priorities and Needs

• Boaz B Keizire, Head of Policy and Food Systems, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) representing Agnes Kalibata, President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
• Qingfeng Zhang, Senior Director, Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector Office, Asian Development Bank

Preparing for COP29 and COP30

• Nigar Arpadarai, UN Climate Change High Level Champion for COP29 Azerbaijan; Member of Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan
• Eduardo Brito Bastos, Agronomic Engineer (ESALQ/USP)
• Juan Lucas Restrepo, Global Director of Partnerships & Advocacy, CGIAR; Director General of the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT

Moderator

• Roula Majdalani, Climate Change Advisor, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)