COP30: Key takeaways for agrifood systems

COP30, the 30^th annual United Nations climate change conference took place between 10-21 November, in Belém, Brazil. This COP, identified as the ‘implementation COP’ brought together nearly 200 countries to discuss and negotiate climate action. 

As one of COP30’s six thematic axes, ‘Transforming Agriculture and Food Systems’ set out a bold vision: restoring land and promoting sustainable agriculture, building food systems that are more resilient, adaptive, and sustainable, and ensuring equitable access to adequate food and nutrition for all. This focus is critical given the global food system is responsible for around a third of greenhouse gas emissions, and climate related shocks, extreme and unpredictable weather patterns, and soil degradation are threatening yields, supply chain stability, and global food security. These themes align with insights from the Net Zero Transition Plan and the Climate Risk Assessment of the UK Food system, where despite the difference in scale, identify comparable climate-related pressures and offer evidence for the urgency of transitioning to more resilient, low-carbon food systems.  

Finance: Unlocking the biggest opportunity 

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has identified finance as the biggest challenge to transforming agriculture and food systems. Despite the impact of the food system on the climate, only 4% of climate-related development finance currently flows into agrifood systems, leaving a significant gap in funding for adaptation and resilience, limiting progress. COP30 prioritised dialogue on how to scale up finance through the mobilisation of capital for nature positive and climate smart agriculture. This level of funding will require public and private partnerships, and stronger commitments from businesses across the food system. The Transition Finance Council has an important role to play in shaping pathways for this investment. 

Nature – Food System Interdependence 

COP30 marked a turning point in recognising that food systems and nature are inseparable and neither can thrive without the other. Food systems depend heavily on healthy ecosystems for soil fertility, pollination, water regulation, and carbon storage. Current farming practices are driving deforestation, biodiversity loss, and soil degradation, highlighting the urgency for nature-based solutions, a recurring theme throughout COP30.  

Several major initiatives were launched that will shape global and UK priorities across the food system: 

1. The Cali Fund – A fund helping to finance nature at scale by unlocking billions to fund nature positive projects and creating opportunities for businesses to align on global biodiversity goals.  

2. UK – Brazil Fertilisers Declaration – A global push to slash emissions from fertiliser production to improve soil health and reduce the dependency on high carbon inputs supporting farmers’ resilience and boost agricultural productivity – a vital step for transitioning to sustainable farming. 

3. RAIZ (Resilient Agriculture Investment for Net Zero Land Degradation) – COP30 launched RAIZ, a global accelerator to restore degraded farmland. With the UK a partner opens opportunities for UK businesses to invest in soil carbon sequestration and regenerative farming practices. 

4. UK becomes a Food Waste Breakthrough Country Champion – This will help drive the global goal to halve food waste by 2030 and cut methane emissions by keeping food out of landfill. 

 

COP30 placed food systems and nature at the heart of climate action recognising that resilient food systems cannot exist without healthy ecosystems. While there has been meaningful progress at COP towards integrating nature and food systems into global climate commitments, there must now be a shift beyond incremental improvements towards a system wide transformation that restores ecosystems, reduces emissions across the value chain, and strengthens resilience. Much more still needs to be done, as the risks and costs of inaction continue to grow significantly for people, economies, and the planet.