A4IP at COP28: Driving Sustainability in Agri-Food Systems

As a pivotal annual assembly, COPs serve as the primary global multilateral decision-making platform on climate change. This year, nearly every country in the world has agreed to “transition away from fossil fuels” by 2050, the main driver of climate change.1 It is the first time such an agreement has been reached in 28 years of international climate negotiations. Moreover, COP28 witnessed increased support for food systems transformation, with more than US$7.1 billion mobilized for climate-positive action in the food systems sector. On December 10, COP28’s Food, Agriculture and Water Day, 152 parties have endorsed the COP28 UAE Declaration on Agriculture, Food Systems and Climate Action, recognizing that any path aimed at achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement must include sustainable agriculture and food systems transformations through research and innovation.

In this framework and committed to co-design and accelerate agri-food and climate tech innovations, the CGIAR Accelerate for Impact Platform centred its presence at COP28 on fostering science-driven entrepreneurship, de-risking technological development, and exploring the private sector’s role in implementing transformative solutions.