Baku: Climate change and food security are intertwined, as highlighted by Ismahane Elouafi, the Executive Managing Director of the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers (CGIAR), during the “Science and Innovation for Low-Emission and Sustainable Food Systems” session at COP29. Elouafi pointed out that agriculture, forestry, and land use account for nearly one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, emphasizing the critical need for transformation in these sectors to address climate change effectively.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Elouafi stressed the importance of collective action, scientific innovation, and strategic collaboration in transforming agricultural systems into part of the solution to the climate crisis. She noted that the entire food production chain-from processing and transport to storage and consumption-must be central to efforts aimed at combating climate change. Without significant changes in these areas, achieving global climate and sustainable development g
oals will remain elusive.

Elouafi also expressed concern over the minimal allocation of climate finance to agriculture, which currently stands at only 4.3% and is reportedly decreasing. She emphasized that the session served as an important platform to showcase scientific advancements and innovations that could significantly impact climate change mitigation efforts within the agricultural sector.