Scientists, leaders sign declaration on agricultural diversification at Paris climate change talks
Wednesday, 9 December 2015
The Declaration on Agricultural Diversification was launched and signed in Paris on December 7, 2015 by world-renowned scientists and leaders during the recent meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP21. The declaration, which aims to build agricultural resilience and food security for future climates, will underpin a Global Action Plan for Agricultural Diversification (GAPAD) to be developed during 2016. The declaration recognizes that global agriculture must provide greater food and nutrition security, minimize environmental harm, alleviate poverty and support the better use of land. Commenting on the importance of signing this declaration, Prof. Sayed Azam-Ali, Chief Executive Officer of Crops for the Future (CFF) said: “We can no longer depend on maize, wheat, rice and soybean to feed the world. By 2030, the world will need 50% more food and energy and 30% more fresh water. The Declaration on Agricultural Diversification calls upon states, intergovernmental organizations and the non-government sector to work together to develop and implement the necessary actions worldwide to diversify agriculture.” The Declaration on Agricultural Diversification will stand alongside the UNFCCC COP21 Agreement as a historic document and will be the main agenda item at the COP13 CBD meeting in Cancun, Mexico, in December 2016. It is based on the following actions:
- Develop a Global Action Plan for Agricultural Diversification (GAPAD).
- Convene an International Conference on Agricultural Diversification under the auspices of UNFAO.
- Agree at the CBD COP13 (Mexico 2016) on a process to formulate a “Protocol on Agricultural Diversification” to the Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992.