As COP enters its final week, FFCC joins a global coalition of organisations urging a transition to sustainable, equitable and resilient food systems.

At COP 27, we have supported the first ever Food Systems Pavilion and showcased the stories of farmers and citizens who are finding pathways to nurture and protect the needs of people, and planet.

Today, we have signed the joint letter with WWF, the Food and Land Use Coalition, FoodTank, and others. Read the full letter below.

Dear Negotiators on the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture and Ministers arriving at COP27,

As we enter the second week of COP27, we, a global coalition of organisations from across the food systems community, are reinforcing the urgency of agreeing a new mandate for the future of the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture that can deliver sustainable, equitable and resilient food systems that enable people and nature to prosper within planetary boundaries.

Sustainable food systems deliver food security and nutrition for all, without compromising the welfare of future generations through harmful economic, social and environmental practices. In the context of the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture, this means taking a particular focus on sustainable food production, nutrition and dietary shifts, as well as food loss and waste.

Transforming agricultural systems and supporting farmers to enhance adaptation so that they can build resilience to climate change is imperative. As is adopting nature-positive food production at scale, to reduce emissions and restore nature, limiting the most damaging effects of climate change on food security.

It is also necessary to shift to healthier and more sustainable diets and to radically reduce food loss and waste. These are critical climate solutions without which we can neither limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, nor build sustainable food systems that provide all people with enough healthy and nutritious food.

We urge you to agree to a new mandate for Koronivia that includes food systems approaches so that we can shift to implementation.

There will be no food security if we do not minimise the impacts of climate change. And there is no way to minimise the impacts of climate change without transforming food systems, from farm to fork. Transforming agricultural systems is critical but is not enough, world leaders need to take a holistic approach to food systems.

We need to accelerate the transition to more equitable and sustainable food systems - and we can’t leave COP27 without a clear process to include food systems as part of our climate solutions. We know this work is critical to tackling the climate crisis and to supporting those most in need. This cannot be another failed attempt to drive action across food systems.

Sincerely,

WWF, Environmental Defense Fund, Food and Land Use Coalition, The Nature Conservancy, Food Systems Pavilion, EAT, CARE, GAIN, Indigenous Women and Girls Initiative, Caritas Africa, African Biodiversity Network, ICCAD, CAFOD, SNV, WBCSD, Club of Rome, One Acre Fund, EIT Food, Clim-Eat, Global Resilience Partnership, InFarm, GFI, IFA, Aleph Farms, Food, Farming & Countryside Commission, FoodTank, Food Systems for the Future, Four Paws, Food Action Alliance