23 February 2016: The CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) has published two working papers and two associated information notes synthesizing the latest knowledge on agriculture and adaptation. The papers and notes are designed to help countries to prepare submissions to the 44th session of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Body on Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), and will be discussed during in-session workshops on agriculture.

The SBSTA and in-session workshops will convene in Bonn, Germany, from 16-26 May 2016.

The first paper, titled ‘Adaptation Measures in Agricultural Systems,’ explores actions and institutions that can improve climate resilience in smallholder farming, drawing on examples and results from CGIAR’s diverse portfolio. Lessons identified include the need to: ensure context specificity when designing adaptation measures; engage farmers in decision making; and combine indigenous and scientific knowledge.

According to the paper, the added benefits of adaptation measures in agricultural systems include: enhanced food security; mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other environmental benefits; and positive outcomes for gender and social inclusion. It highlights the importance of good design and implementation of adaptation measures, stressing the need for capacity enhancement and technology transfer. The paper is accompanied by an information note, titled ‘Measures for climate change adaptation in agriculture,’ which summarizes key messages.

The second paper, titled ‘Agricultural practices and technologies to enhance food security, resilience and productivity in a sustainable manner,’ summarizes practices and technologies across the rural landscape, covering soils, crops, livestock, water, forests, fisheries, energy and services. It identifies four key lessons: agricultural practices and technologies are context-specific; strong mechanisms for capacity enhancement and technology transfer are prerequisites for successful interventions; suitable sources of funding are required to support implementation and scaling up efforts; and many agricultural practices and technologies have the potential to achieve co-benefits for environmental health and climate change mitigation.

The paper emphasizes the need to manage for multiple outcomes in contexts where mitigation is feasible, which could help countries and smallholder farmers adopt low-carbon development pathways. The key messages are summarized in an accompanying information note, titled ‘Climate change adaptation in agriculture: practices and technologies.’

Both working papers include numerous case studies from around the world. Agriculture has been historically slow to progress under the UNFCCC. In 2014, however, the SBSTA invited submissions from Parties and observers, covering four agriculture-related topics, to be submitted in 2015 and 2016.

The two working papers and accompanying information notes have been prepared in response to the SBSTA’s invitation for views on issues relating to: the identification of adaptation measures, taking into account the diversity of the agricultural systems, indigenous knowledge systems and the differences in scale as well as possible co-benefits and sharing experiences in research and development and on the ground activities, including socioeconomic, environmental and gender aspects; and identification and assessment of agricultural practices and technologies to enhance productivity in a sustainable manner, food security and resilience, considering the differences in agroecological zones and farming systems, such as different grassland and cropland practices and systems.

In related news, CCAFS and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) have invited country UNFCCC focal points, negotiating teams, as well as government representatives from ministries in Asia and the Pacific working on agriculture sectors and climate change issues to join the ‘Webinar on SBSTA and agriculture in 2016: Perspectives for Asia-Pacific,’ which will take place on 1 March 2016. For more details, contact: Climate-Change-AP@fao.org

[Publication: Adaptation Measures in Agricultural Systems] [Publication: Information Note: Measures for Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture] [Publication: Agricultural Practices and Technologies to Enhance Food Security, Resilience and Productivity in a Sustainable Manner] [Publication: Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture: Practices and Technologies] [CCAFS Press Release] [SBSTA 40 Conclusions on Issues Related to Agriculture] [UNFCCC SBSTA 44 In-session Workshops Webpage] [Webinar on SBSTA and Agriculture Webpage]