TECHNOLOGY TRENDS Food Systems
Climate change threatens food security, livelihoods, nutrition, biodiversity, and natural ecosystems. Meanwhile, new research asserts that the overall food system, accounting for energy use in food supply chains, produced roughly one-third of global emissions in 2018. Three quarters of these emissions were generated within the farm gate, or in pre-and post-production activities, while the remainder were generated through land use change induced largely by the conversion of natural ecosystems to agricultural land.
According to FAO, several major drivers have recently derailed progress to end world hunger and malnutrition in all its forms by 2030. The COVID-19 pandemic created formidable challenges, prompting additional reflection on how we can more effectively improve our food systems and address food security. Conflict, violence, and escalating climate-related disasters have also perpetuated unacceptably high levels of inequality, and wreaked havoc among small-scale producers in developing countries, while exposing and exacerbating vulnerabilities in our food systems.
Agriculture inhabits a unique position as a contributor to climate change, as well as a sector that needs to build resilience to the effects of climate change. Agriculture is also seen as part of the solution, given the role it can play in enhancing carbon sequestration in soil and biomass. This sets the sector apart in its ability to contribute to both mitigation and adaptation goals and capitalize on measures that create synergies and deliver a myriad of benefits to a diverse group of stakeholders.
The transformation of our food systems is integral to a sustainable future and dependent on successful technological innovation, transfer, and digitalization to improve agricultural production, bolster resilience, address food insecurity, provide healthy diets for all, and meet SDG 2 on zero hunger. In collaboration with stakeholders, the CTCN supports the agriculture sector through the development of methodologies for monitoring climate’s impacts on agriculture, national agroforestry plans, knowledge management systems, technology adaptation programs, climate-smart agriculture manuals, waste management systems for livestock, and rural community-based livelihood improvement systems that support resilient agricultural practices.
Assessment of Applicable Climate Technologies for Establishing Baseline GHG Emissions from Cattle Farming in Cuba
Cuba’s extensive use of livestock farming and conventional agronomic practices have resulted in low productivity and extensive environmental damage, including soil degradation, deforestation, and biodiversity loss. The country is aiming to transform the current traditional production model into one incorporating low-emissions livestock farming that can reduce GHG emissions while adapting to climate variability.
The CTCN, with partners Viresco Solutions, Inc. and Anthesis Lovola, supported the development of an initial baseline estimate of Cuba’s livestock emissions and the GHG reduction potential of implementing more sustainable practices. The partners also identified the potential adaptation co-benefits of adopting climate-smart livestock management practices and are supporting the dissemination of lessons learned to local stakeholders, including researchers and local leaders, while supporting communications strategies to boost the further implementation of climate-smart management. Finally, a concept note for support from the GCF was developed for a project focused on improved climate-smart production in Cuba.
“The project developed a first approximation of GHG emissions from cattle ranching and climate change resilient practices, and led to the modeling of three scenarios with a low net contribution in emissions. These results will be included in the mitigation actions in policies, strategies and plans of the climate change program (NAMA, NDC, commitments to conventions) that the country will carry out in the coming years, for the benefit of public and private producers. We are very satisfied with the results generated within the framework of this project and are interested in continuing to work with the CTCN on any other collaboration that may arise from it.”
This technology assistance advances:
Cuba’s Nationally Determined Contribution
Cuba’s updated NDC (2020) prioritizes agriculture and energy for GHG emissions reductions. As the technical assistance is being used to provide an initial baseline estimate of emissions from the livestock sector, it can also be used to estimate Cuba’s GHG emissions more accurately for inclusion in further NDC updates.
Sustainable Development Goals:
