Copenhagen leaders must support farmers ‘on the front line’ of climate change

New climate change framework calls for adaptation fund for agriculture, outlines key agricultural priorities

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Friday 23 October 2009 – The Farming First coalition has called on world leaders to create a dedicated adaptation fund for agriculture to help farmers deal with the effects of climate change. Farm families are on the front line of climate change – likely to be the most affected by altering weather patterns. More attention needs to be paid the ways to help them mitigate climate change and to adapt to its effects.

‘Farming First’ is a global coalition of 124 organisations representing the world’s farmers, agronomists, scientists, engineers, and industry. Working together, they have compiled a comprehensive policy framework, which provides innovative solutions to reduce emissions from agriculture and adapt to climate change while increasing agricultural productivity to meet growing food needs.

David King, Secretary General, International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) says:
“If we don’t give farmers practical help to make their full contribution to fighting climate change, we will fail in Copenhagen. That is why Farming First wants world leaders to create a dedicated adaptation fund for agriculture to help farmers get the financial support they need to deal with the threats of climate change which they, more than any other group of people, are already struggling with.”

As well as calling for an adaptation fund, the coalition has outlined a number of other recommendations to be considered at Copenhagen. Among these are:

• Promoting agricultural best practices, particularly Integrated Crop Management (ICM), conservation agriculture, intercropping and fertilizer best management practices.
• Urging agricultural inclusion with multilateral financial mechanisms, potentially including the UNFCCC’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI).
• Investing in research, science, and knowledge sharing to allow farmers to better cope with climate change as they grow food.

Thomas Rosswall, Chairman of the Steering Committee for the CGIAR Challenge Programme on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security says:
“To meet the twin challenges of climate change and food security, we need two things. First, we need more research and innovation to create new solutions. Secondly, we need to make better use of the proven technologies and practices which have not yet reached the hands of farmers.”

ENDS

Media Contact: Michael Hoevel, +44 (0)20 7079 9220, michaelh@glasshousepartnership.com

Farming First is a global coalition of 124 organisation calling for a broad-based, knowledge-centred approach to increase agricultural output in a sustainable and socially responsible manner. It members include representatives of the world’s farmers, scientists, engineers, and industry.