With debate about climate change and agriculture emerging , experts are urging for investment
in agriculture innovations for farmers to adapt.
The conversation about agricultural innovations
emerged as researchers, policy makers and farmer organizations meet ahead of
the upcoming 2021 UN Climate Change Conference or COP26.
The call for investment in technology comes amidst concern that less than
10% of investment in agricultural systems is spent on agricultural innovation.
The virtual meeting held on Thursday recognizes the fact that the Agriculture
sector remains a significant driver of natural ecosystem degradation,
biodiversity loss and climate change.
Uganda National Farmer’s Federation President , Dick Nuwamanya Kamuganga was
one of the panelists at the meeting hosted by the
CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture & Food Security
(CCAFS).
Kamuganga observed that while some innovative agricultural technologies have
been popping up, many farmers have not been able to access them.
He says the cost of the innovations coupled with low level of technology transfer
have made the technologies inaccessible to farmers.
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Scaling up agricultural innovation has
been identified as a key lever to support this transformation and offer
solutions to the climate change emergency by developing and deploying
agricultural practices and technologies at scale.
Globally, it is being recognized
that while many
people will adapt to climate change by changing their behavior, perhaps by
moving to a new location or changing their occupation, they will rely on
technologies that increase resilience to climate risks and extremes, such as
new irrigation systems, advanced weather forecasting tools, and more-resilient
crop varieties among others.
It is further being observed that transformation
of agri-food systems is needed to help achieve the Paris Agreement and the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development
As national delegations prepare for
the UN Climate Change Conference in UK later this year, some climate activists
want half
of all public investment in agricultural research to focus on innovations that
provide new solutions across our food systems.
They want COP26 to come up with a position on financing p innovative
agricultural solutions and their inclusion National Adaptation Programmes of
Action (NAPAs).
NAPAs provide a process for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to identify
priority activities that respond to their urgent and immediate needs to adapt
to climate change. For Kamuganga, there is also need to take stalk of existing
technologies for the benefit of farmer.
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The COP26 summit to be hosted by UK will
bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris
Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
UK Ambassador to the UN Food and Agriculture Agencies
in Rome, Terri Sarch, noted the climate and environmental crisis without
ensuring that everyone has access to knowledge and innovation that they need.
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Experts
in climate change adaptation have noted that the extent to which such
technologies are developed and made globally available will significantly shape
the “new normal” of life—if not sheer survival, for millions—in adapting to
climate change.
