Ottawa-The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) had a pavilion at the COP28 conference in Dubai called the Home of Sustainable Agriculture where the region’s farm organizations explained how farming is trying to cope with climate change.

The pavilion’s message was that science-based environmental impact indicators on agriculture’s role in climate change need to be agreed with and formally endorsed by farmers as part of innovation processes designed to make agriculture in the Americas more sustainable.

As well speakers explained the importance of collaborative efforts in achieving zero emissions in the agrifood value chain to improve production and promote food safety.

Michelle Nutting, Director of Agricultural and Environmental Sustainability at Saskatoon-based Nutrien, described how her company was facing the challenge of promoting the concept of carbon measurement among the different actors in its production chain, which required all parties to work together.

“One of the first challenges was to create trustworthy partnerships, so we could make progress in measuring and reducing emissions together, and then have a third organization validate our actions in order to scale them up,” she said.

“This was also challenging because the validation and verification organizations that exist do not have much experience with agriculture; education is needed in this field.”

IICA Director General Manuel Otero said, “Science should be the basis for all the decisions that need to be taken to enable agriculture to increase its contribution to mitigation and adaptation, as the sector is a key factor in the solutions to climate change. Agricultural producers must be at the heart of all policies aimed at achieving this objective, since they give life to agricultural systems that are not failed systems, although they can be improved.”

Katie Sullivan, Managing Director of the Toronto-based International Emissions Trading Association, said, “Emissions measurement is a decision that involves risks, as there is no single path to follow. It requires commitment from producers, suppliers, etc., and lots of effort, learning, resources and time.”

Meanwhile David McInnes, the driving force behind Canada’s sustainable agriculture strategy, says it aligns with and can enable the COP28 Declaration on Food. As well, it meshes with the COP28 Declaration of Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action, which is driving up significant attention to the role of global agriculture and food in responding to the climate crisis.

Worldwide, food systems are expected to urgently collaborate and act on this Declaration, he said.

For information on the Canadian National Index for Sustainable Agriculture, see www.agifoodindex.ca

This news report was prepared for National Newswatch.