Stakeholders from the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR), including the CGIAR, the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development, FAO, IFAD, International Farmers Organizations, and Regional Agricultural Research Fora, joined more than 20 Governments and 30 organizations and companies in the launch of the Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture during the UN Climate Summit 2014. The Global Alliance aims to enable 500 million farmers worldwide to practice climate-smart agriculture.
GFAR stakeholders have been at the forefront of actions to raise awareness of the potential of agricultural systems in adapting and mitigating to climate change.
GFAR is an active member of the Friends of the Alliance on Climate-Smart Agriculture (ACSA) and has played an important role during the global and regional preparatory meetings, consultations and conferences that culminated with the official launch of the Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture on 23 September 2014.
The Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture is a voluntary, farmer-led, multi-stakeholder, action-oriented coalition committed to the incorporation of climate-smart approaches within food and agriculture systems.
The Global Alliance seeks to improve people’s food and nutrition security by helping governments, farmers, scientists, businesses, and civil society, as well as regional and international organizations, to adjust agricultural practices, food systems and social policies so that they take account of climate change and efficient use of natural resources.
Juan Lucas Restrepo, Chair of GFAR, in his speech during the Summit stressed that GFAR is committed to the Alliance in working across a wide range of institutions to actively support the strengthening of research and innovation actions on climate change and agriculture, in particular in developing required capacities, helping farmers to better manage risks and grassroots foresight, and linking agricultural innovation with wider societal and development needs.
Photo credit: ©FAO/Daniel Haydu