Mobilizing investment for resilient and low-emission agrifood systems in Asia through carbon markets

Key Takeaways:

• The workshop explored how carbon markets could drive investments in low-emission rice cultivation and create opportunities for smallholder farmers in Southeast Asia.
• Transparent and standardized MRV guidelines are essential for verifying emission reductions and enabling smallholder participation in carbon markets.
• The high cost of MRV remains a barrier, with innovative solutions like small-scale concessional loans suggested to support farmers’ participation in climate-smart practices.

Bangkok, Thailand (24 September 2024) —A three-day regional workshop concluded on 18 September 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand. Participants, primarily from Southeast Asia, convened to explore the potential of carbon markets in driving investments for low-emission agrifood systems.

The workshop was organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in partnership with the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) with additional development representatives such as the World Bank, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), as well as INGOs and consultancy organizations, such as the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), the Klik Foundation, RIZE, and individual ministries in the fields of agriculture and rice cultivation.

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) was represented through Katherine Nelson – Climate Change Scientist of IRRI Viet Nam Office, Bjoern Ole Sander – Representative to Thailand and Senior Scientist Lead at IRRI Thailand Office, and Amber Sharick – Sustainable Finance Officer of IRRI Viet Nam office to contribute in technical discussions on and off stage.

The workshop was held in the wake of the COP 28 climate summit, in which food systems were acknowledged as a component of addressing climate change…