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Saturday / January 11. 2025
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At the multi stakeholder COP29 panel discussion , ADB’s $14 billion food security commitment and the emerging partnerships reflecting the urgency of fostering sustainable and inclusive agricultural systems were highlighted, paving the way for bold and transformative innovations across sustainable agricultural practices, nutrition-focused interventions, and global resilience in Asia Pacific

During the first week of COP29, the urgency to address agriculture’s role in climate resilience and food security has never been clearer. The Asia-Pacific region, home to some of the world’s most climate-vulnerable populations, is at the forefront of this challenge. Climate change, water scarcity, and political conflicts threaten food security, disrupt livelihoods, and exacerbate nutritional deficiencies across the region.

ADB Senior Director for Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Dr. Qingfeng Zhang pointed to the centrality of International Financial institutions (IFIs) in Asia-Pacific’s food systems and climate goals. “Moving forward, our focus is on three key priorities. First, we will shift from a production-based approach to demand-side interventions, with a strong emphasis on nutrition security. Second, we aim to advance smart agriculture, restore natural capital, and strengthen fisheries and agricultural systems while supporting food productivity, reducing food loss and waste, and promoting open trade. Finally, we will harness digital technology and champion inclusive agricultural policies to drive equitable and sustainable development.”

IFIs play a vital role in shaping global agricultural transformation. Their contributions span multiple areas, including policy dialogue, where they align incentives for farmers and private investors to prioritize climate resilience. In parallel, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Director for Agricultural Development Martien van Nieuwkoop highlighted context-specific and innovations-driven initiatives as natural spaces “where science meets finance” and where IFIs can address market failures and build systems that truly benefit farmers.

“When it comes to technological innovation, there is no universal solution or “Tesla car” that works in all conditions. Instead, solutions must be adapted to local contexts, which highlights the importance of bundling technologies into tailored packages. This is where initiatives like the new ADB-CGIAR Clearinghouse play a critical role,” noted van Nieuwkoop, adding that platforms that can integrate these bundled solutions and address multiple constraints simultaneously will be crucial in ensuring that they are practical, scalable, and impactful.

Amidst all these, innovation and technology play a key role in reshaping farming practices. AI-driven weather forecasting is providing real-time, actionable insights for farmers, optimizing planting schedules and resource use. “AI tools are revolutionizing agriculture, enabling small-scale farmers to make data-driven decisions,” noted Michael Kremer, Director, Development Innovation Lab, University of Chicago.

Nutrition programming was also cited as an invaluable element of this transformation, addressing the broader health and resilience challenges linked to food security. Sarah LaHaye, Lead for Climate Action and Nutrition at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) underscored, “Nutrition is often an afterthought in climate and food security programming. It’s vital to intentionally integrate nutrition to ensure that crop diversification and resilience efforts also improve nutritional outcomes.” LaHaye cited GAIN programs in Indonesia, which tackled food loss and waste while addressing emissions and nutritional benefits, as a key example of how climate and nutrition goals can align effectively.

ADB Director General – Chief Compliance Officer for Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department Bruno Carrasco closed the session with a resounding call to action, “We must invest in science, innovation, and partnerships to address today’s challenges while building a food-secure future.”

At the multi stakeholder COP29 panel discussion

It aims to improve rural livelihoods by assisting stakeholders in generating carbon credits through mitigation measures.

The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and the Suzuki R&D Center India Pvt. Ltd (SRDI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collectively advance initiatives in renewable energy, circular economy, rural development and waste management. This collaboration aims to improve rural livelihoods by assisting stakeholders in generating carbon credits through mitigation measures, exploring mechanisms for carbon credit exchange and developing methodologies and tools for assessing carbon footprints of rural livelihood activities. All three organizations will also collectively undertake comprehensive studies, assessments, training programmes and share research and training facilities to further the objectives of MoU.

The newly signed MoU outlines the roles of NDDB, TERI and SRDI in promoting sustainability and improving rural livelihoods. NDDB will support surveys and pilot initiatives by leveraging its rural network. Collaborating with TERI and SRDI, NDDB will assist in generating carbon credits and providing technical expertise. TERI will conduct assessments with focus on carbon credits and pilot projects, aligning their efforts with sustainability goals. SRDI will support assessments by linking with national and international entities, as well as assisting in carbon credit quantification. Additionally, SRDI will encourage innovative solutions for sustainability in the dairy sector.

The MoU was signed in presence of Dr Meenesh Shah, Chairman and Managing Director, NDDB; Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI and Kenichiro Toyofuku, Director, SRDI. The partners also agreed to jointly represent their collaborative research, methods, findings and policy solutions at various forums to promote sustainable rural development.

Emphasizing the importance of this collaboration, Dr Vibha Dhawan said, “ The partnership with NDDB and SRDI will enable us to expand our efforts in promoting sustainable practices in rural areas. Through research, training and capacity building, we empower farmers and rural communities to embrace eco-friendly methods and contribute to a circular economy,” she highlighted.

Speaking at the occasion, Dr Meenesh Shah stated that this MoU represents a significant milestone towards sustainable rural development. “By combining our strengths and resources, we are ready to develop innovative solutions that will not only improve rural livelihoods but also promote environmental sustainability. Our collaborative efforts in renewable energy, waste management and carbon credit mechanisms will lead to a greener and more prosperous future for rural communities and propel India towards net zero dairying,” he added.

 Kenichiro Toyofuku informed that SRDI, as an Indian subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation, is focused on technology development for mobility and achieving carbon neutrality. He further added, “One of our key objectives is to adopt clean fuels like dung-based biogas for mobility. This MoU with NDDB and TERI is a noteworthy step towards deeper engagement with the dairy sector, helping us achieve sustainability goals for both the automotive and dairy industries. Together, we can drive innovative solutions that benefit the environment and rural livelihoods.”

It aims to improve rural livelihoods by