18 March 2015: The Third Global Science Conference on Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA), organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the CGIAR Consortium along with other partners, concluded with the adoption of the Montpellier Statement. With a view to developing sustainable landscapes and food systems, the Statement identifies what is needed for CSA solutions that address food security, as well as climate change adaptation and mitigation.

The Montpellier Statement is meant to contribute to the upcoming 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which will take place at the end of 2015 in Paris, France. Among other Conference conclusions, it notes that: in the future, agriculture must address the challenges of sustainable food systems and landscapes; researchers and practitioners must engage in order to build evidence and design trajectories for multiple “transformative transitions” of CSA; and that the future of CSA relies upon policy, institutional and financing decisions.

The Conference, which took place from 16-18 March 2015 in Montpellier, France, brought together over 600 researchers and 150 stakeholders and policy makers from 75 countries and five continents, including representatives from scientific organizations, national and international governmental organizations, farmers’ associations, industry and civil society. Participants shared their experiences, discussed global and specific research agendas, and emphasized that CSA solutions are already available for implementation provided there is a clear commitment from relevant stakeholders. [Conference Website] [Montpellier Statement] [Conference Press Releases]