Qabil Ashirov

A side event called “Science and innovation for low-emission and
sustainable food systems” was held at the COP29 climate conference,
Azernews reports.

The event jointly organized by the COP29 Presidency with the UN
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Consultative Group
on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) is dedicated to Food
and Agriculture Day.

CGIAR executive director Ismahane Elouafi said in her speech
that today the world is facing two extraordinary challenges and two
of the world’s most urgent problems, climate change and food
security, are closely related. About a third of greenhouse gases
come from agriculture, forestry and land use, rising to about 70
percent in low- and middle-income countries. Many of the 500
million smallholder farmers who provide a third of the world’s food
supply and make up 83 percent of the world’s farms live in regions
particularly affected by climate change, which puts their lives and
livelihoods at risk every day.

The speaker also informed about the scientific research, applied
initiatives and innovative approaches carried out by the
institution he represents in different regions of the world. It
noted that applied innovation could reduce methane emissions by 30
percent, provide a roadmap for reducing greenhouse gases in
livestock production, and provide a basis for broader application
and policy integration.

Academician Irada Huseynova, the vice-president of the
Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, said in her speech that
there are problems such as sharp changes in climate, increase in
temperature, increase in the number of very hot days, decrease in
the water level in rivers, drought, salinization, and
intensification of climate-related biotic stress. Drought, land
degradation and desertification are serious issues in
Azerbaijan.

It was reported that relevant scientific institutes of the
Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences focus on ensuring food and
ecological balance and contributing to the application of modern
approaches in agriculture. In this regard, research on the
restoration, protection and efficient use of biodiversity, land and
water resources through scientific and innovative approaches, as
well as the work done in the field of creating electronic database
maps were discussed, as well as the application of innovative means
such as automation to artificial intelligence in agriculture.

Academician I. Huseynova said that the relations established
with international centers, research institutes, including CGIAR,
gave a great impetus to the research of agro-food systems in
Azerbaijan and created the ground for more progress in this
field.

Silvia Massruha, president of the Brazilian Agrarian Research
Society, spoke about her country’s experience in applying
scientific and innovative approaches, and talked about the
development of sustainable production systems that include the
integration of crop production, animal husbandry and forestry. It
was noted that Brazil faces challenges in the areas of food
security, nutrition, ecosystem services and climate change, and 77
percent of farmers are small or medium enterprises. Government
policies implemented since 1996 serve to reduce climate risks and
promote the bioeconomy, as well as increase agricultural
productivity and sustainability through climate adaptation and
mitigation, digitization and automation, and the use of new
technologies.

Japanese Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Kubota Osamu pointed out that his country is taking active measures
to build low-emission and sustainable food systems through science
and innovation. It was reported that in 2021, Japan adopted a
“Green Middle East Strategy” aimed at creating sustainable food
systems, and this strategy focuses on climate-friendly agricultural
technologies capable of accelerating innovation and increasing both
productivity and sustainability.

Other speeches emphasized the importance of scientific and
innovative approaches to cooperation in improving food systems,
knowledge sharing, and supporting investments that will ensure
climate-smart food systems. It was noted that it is important that
collective action, scientific innovation and strategic cooperation
seek solutions to ensure the future of agricultural and food
systems. Because food production, processing, transportation,
trade, storage and consumption should be at the center of efforts
in the fight against climate change. Without significant
transformation in these areas, the world cannot achieve either the
climate or the Sustainable Development Goals, as agriculture plays
an important role in both emissions reduction and
decarbonisation.