Harvesting Hope: What COP28 Means for Global Agriculture and Food Security

18 December 2023

The 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) of the The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) witnessed a pivotal moment for global agriculture with the signing of the UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action by 134 nations. As leaders convened to address the urgent challenges posed by climate change on agriculture and food systems, the declaration emerged as a transformative vision, underscoring the profound potential of agriculture to drive innovative responses and unlock shared prosperity for all.

The declaration highlights the critical importance of water management, sustainable agricultural practices, and the preservation of biodiversity. It issues a call to action, urging us to reduce our environmental impact, fortify soils, and transition towards more sustainable methods of food production and consumption. Critically, it acknowledges and addresses the needs of the most vulnerable among us — women, children, Indigenous Peoples, and those with disabilities — offering tailored support and innovative solutions to uplift these communities.

Looking forward to 2025, participating nations commit to a comprehensive review of policies, a substantial increase in financial backing, and an accelerated pace of innovations to usher in a transformation of agriculture.

Crop Trust's Crucial Role

With almost 20 years of experience in ensuring our food in perpetuity and an ambitious 2030 strategy, the Crop Trust is perfectly positioned to turn the declaration into action. The Crop Trust’s Executive Director, Stefan Schmitz, highlighted the indispensable role of crop diversity and genebanks in driving the transformation of agri-food systems. 

Stressing the need for global collaboration among genebanks, the Crop Trust emphasized the importance of stable, long-term financial resources in unlocking their transformative potential. With the declaration showing the way, the Crop Trust is more than ever committed  to securing crop diversity for resilience, innovation, and sustainability in the face of the climate challenges faced by food.