January 2011: The Challenge Program on Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) has released a report and associated policy brief, both titled “Lessons from REDD+ for Agriculture.”

The report relies on interviews with 32 key respondents highlighting the need for action in the areas of: policy making; implementation mechanisms and governance; monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV); finance; capacity strengthening; and co-benefits. The report describes challenges related to creating policy space for addressing agricultural mitigation and building an approach for implementation that is feasible. It outlines differences between forest-based and agricultural-based mitigation, and highlights that there will be “winner” and “loser” countries in reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD) and any agricultural mitigation efforts.

The policy brief outlines the key suggestions from the report and calls for agriculture to be a part of national and international emission reduction efforts, but in a way that does not compromise food security or economic development. It stresses the need to support pilot projects to demonstrate feasibility and build on experience from REDD+ (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, and the role of conservation, sustainable use of forests and enhancement of carbon stocks). The brief concludes by underscoring the need for a shared vision, analysis of high priority mitigation options and impacts, coordination of efforts and encouragement for the flow of money. [Policy Brief on Lessons for REDD+ for Agriculture] [Report on Lessons from REDD+ for Agriculture]