April 2014: The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) released a discussion paper that identifies climate adaptation strategies for agricultural systems, with the aim of achieving food security and reducing poverty. The paper discusses how to transform crop, fisheries, forests and livestock systems under a changing climate and identifies ways the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and CGIAR can support such changes.

The paper, titled ‘How Does Climate Change Alter Agricultural Strategies to Support Food Security,’ analyzes five categories of responses to climate change: increasing production systems’ resilience; diversifying; expanding the use of no regrets technologies and planning; improving information use for risk management; and using mitigation co-benefits.

The paper includes sections on the: expected impacts of climate change on agriculture; potential responses to climate change impacts on agriculture; the roles of CGIAR and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) in supporting needed transitions; monitoring and evaluation; and suggested priority actions for FAO and CGIAR.

On the roles for CGIAR and FAO in supporting actions that incorporate climate responses, the paper recommends, inter alia, explicitly embedding adaptation and mitigation capacity into agricultural growth strategies to support food security and emphasizes that no one change or technology represents a universal solution.

To generate agricultural transformation that supports food security despite climate change, the paper highlights four action areas for CGIAR and FAO: promoting agricultural technologies and innovations; strengthening local institutions; achieving coordinated and informed policies; and increasing access to financing.

IFPRI is a CGIAR member. [IFPRI Press Release] [Publication: How Does Climate Change Alter Agricultural Strategies to Support Food Security]