All best wishes for the holidays. With CFS and UNFCCC wrapped, this will be our final newsletter of 2024. Looking forward to working with you in the New Year and please mark Rome in October in your plans. We will be back for the January edition.
2025 PSM Membership and Sponsorship
As 2025 approaches, we are seeking to increase the PSM membership base and secure sponsorships for PSM activities throughout the coming year. We would encourage existing members to promote the PSM to companies and organisations within your networks so we can continue to build our membership base and impact across the areas where the PSM operates.
Members can sponsor the following special events throughout the year:
- High-Level Interactive Studio (2 x $25,000)
- World Food Forum – Business Delegation Services ($31,200)
- PSM Climate Committee (series of donors)
- Networking events during Annual General Meeting ($16,500 USD)
- Networking event at the launch of the CFS delegation ($2,600 USD)
- Coffee breaks in the PSM delegation room ($2,600 USD)
- Sponsorship of participation for farmers, SMEs, and youth in agriculture (flexible)
Please let us know if you would like to support the activities of PSM next year by contacting robynne@emergingag.com. Your support makes this work possible.
CFS52 – Side Events
To enrich and complement the CFS 52 Plenary sessions, 41 side events were hosted over the five days of Plenary week, showcasing the work of stakeholders aligned with the vision and mandate of the UN Committee on World Food Security. Browse the full side event schedule by day here.
These were the side events PSM organized:
1. From linear to circular: The roles of value chain partners in catalyzing and supporting sustainable peri-urban circular bio economy systems
Organizers: Private Sector Mechanism, Solutions from the Land, Embassy of Kenya, Circular Bioeconomy Systems Institution, Global Dairy Platform, United States Mission to the RBAs, Syngenta, and Pinion.
Value chain partners offered examples of how circularity can be deployed to catalyze and support peri-urban intense farm-fishing-forestry systems and the production, transportation and delivery of their products. Speakers noted that trust relationships across the value chain are critical to scaling circular bioeconomy solutions and underscored the need to enhance sustainable production and consumption. It was also noted that properly designed
enabling policies can scale the transition from a fossil economy to a bioeconomy.
2. Uptake of the CFS policy on food security and nutrition (FSN) data – where do we stand?
Organizers: FAO, UNICEF, World Bank, International Agri-food Network, Switzerland, Kenya
Stock of the initiatives that are being planned and undertaken to implement the CFS policy recommendations on data in practice. During the event, speakers emphasized the critical role of high-quality data in addressing global food insecurity. Key initiatives included the creation of a new FSN statistical domain under the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC), and efforts like the 50x2030 Initiative to close agricultural data gaps. It was noted that the private sector is already investing in innovative data collection methods to improve crop management and resource allocation.
3. Strengthening women's agency in agriculture and food systems through the effective uptake of CFS policy products
Organizers: Germany (Ministry of Food and Agriculture and Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development), Switzerland, Working Group on Global Food Security (AKWE), PSM, CSIPM
CFS deliberations and policy outcomes can be further strengthened in light of the 20th anniversary of the Right to Food and discussed lessons learned and best practices while taking into account the content of the CFS Uptake Action Plan. In view of the upcoming UN Year of the Women Farmer in 2026 and the crucial role women play in the agriculture and food system and for its transformation, there was a special focus on the recently adopted CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment (VG GEWE), exploring how women as central actors in addressing hunger and malnutrition, are also highly vulnerable to the persistent inequities and discrimination in global agriculture and food systems.
4. Translating the CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Gender Equality and Women's and Girls' Empowerment in the Context of Food Security and Nutrition information – Impactful collaborations with the Private Sector and Government
Organizers: FAO - Partnerships and UN Collaboration Division (PSU) and Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division (ESP); IFAD; IAFN; Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal (MAVIM)
Sharing current initiatives and outcomes and shared insights from different regions and entities on the private sector's crucial role in empowering women in agrifood systems. Speakers highlighted actions taken by the private sector in gender empowerment within food systems through the creation of economic opportunities, providing access to resources, improving supply chains, and fostering social impact. PSM speaker, Robynne Anderson spoke to the IAFN FAO SME Accelerator Programme and explained how mentors had guided mentees on their respective businesses. While only 50 mentees were selected in the first cohort of the programme, it was estimated that the benefits had impacted approximately 500,000 people.
5. "Just in time" or "just in case" food systems? Managing trade-offs and building resilience from local to global.
Organizers: HLPE-FSN, GLOPAN, Sierra Leone, Brazil, Mexico, CSPIM, PSM
This event built on the CFS MYPoW theme Building Resilience in Food Systems and focused on how to boost resilience from production to supply chain management, explored how to diversify sources of inputs, production, markets, and actors, including supporting the creation of small and medium-sized companies, cooperatives, consortiums and other groups to maintain diversity in food systems.
6. Reducing inequalities in food systems through entrepreneurship and enterprise
Organizers: OCP; GDP; Nuffield International; Morocco; Indonesia
Inequalities in food systems need to be addressed and are targeted towards the poorest, the most vulnerable and those most at risk of food insecurity and with participation from all countries, all stakeholders and all people. Discussions demonstrated that entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprise act as the greater driver of economic development in rural areas in ways that reduce inequalities and improve the food and nutrition security outcomes of rural people and the most vulnerable.
7. Reducing Inequality in Food Systems by expanding market access for inputs, outputs, and services
Organizers: Mosaic; GDP; Nuffield International, Pinion; GDP
One of the greatest drivers of inequalities in food systems is a lack of market access for agricultural inputs, services and production outputs. Insufficient access to fertilizers, necessary crop control products, insufficient infrastructure and poor extension services affect the most vulnerable populations the most. Speakers emphasized that developing public-private partnerships and policies to address these critical issues that impact the livelihoods of the world's most marginalized and vulnerable communities is essential to reduce inequalities and advance the 2030 agenda.
UNFCCC Update
COP29 finalized the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on Climate Finance, targeting USD 1.3 trillion annually by 2035, with developed countries pledging USD 300 billion yearly. Another achievement was the operationalization of Article 6.4, Mechanism for global carbon markets, which offers major opportunities for agriculture, especially in soil carbon and forestry projects, but uncertainties persist about the feasibility of implementing the adopted standards in agriculture. Overall, agriculture and food systems received limited prominence at COP29, primarily appearing inside events and parallel discussions alongside the main negotiations. Although no significant advancements were achieved for agriculture and food systems during COP29, ongoing initiatives ensured continuity within the global climate agenda. Discussions in Baku on agriculture acted as a transitional link, bridging the momentum and increased focus on food systems highlighted in Dubai with the anticipation of COP30 in Belem, where Brazil is expected to elevate agriculture and food to a central position. The PSM engaged with several key organizations and partners during COP29, including Brazil, Australia, Mali, FAO, IICA, IETA, WFO, and the UNFCCC CRFS Alliance, focusing on COP30 planning and collaboration in areas such as soil health and carbon markets.
UNEP Emission Gap Report
In 2023, total greenhouse gas emissions hit a record of 57.1 giga tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO2e), UNEP said in its "Emissions Gap Report" on 24 October. Of these, agriculture, forestry, and other land-use change accounted for 18%. Livestock farming was associated with 6% of total emissions; biomass burning, soils and rice represented another 5%; and 7% was linked to land use, land use change, and forestry.
While countries' nationally determined contributions (NDCs) are currently off track to meet the target of 1.5°C, it is still technically possible to do so, the agency said – with food, forestry and farming capable of contributing significantly to reduced emissions. Another 7% could come from agriculture and demand-side reforms by 2030, rising to 11% by 2035, the report finds.
On 23 October, the WTO and four other international agencies released a separate report on climate action, which finds that deforestation regulations and other consumption-oriented policies can help limit emissions and reward ambitious firms and countries – but also impose compliance costs, especially for developing country exporters.
The State of Food and Agriculture 2024
In a study updating provisional figures that were published last year, the FAO has said that agrifood systems face "hidden costs" amounting to USD 12 trillion. The State of Food and Agriculture 2024, released on 8 November, refine estimates that were presented in the 2023 edition of the agency's annual report "The State of Food and Agriculture".
Around 70% of hidden costs are related to unhealthy diets, the agency found, with the remainder accounted for by environmental costs and social costs related to undernutrition and poverty.
The report finds that countries with industrial agrifood systems tend to have the most resources available for repurposing to incentivize sustainable, inclusive, and healthy food production and consumption patterns – dedicating on average around 33% of agricultural value added to recurring agricultural support. The analysis also finds that other categories of countries - such as those facing protracted crisis – allocate less than 3% of their agricultural value added to recurrent agricultural support, despite having the greatest need for funding.
CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Gender Equality and Women's and Girls' Empowerment in the Context of Food Security and Nutrition (GEWGE)
The Committee on World Food Security just announced the newly branded version of the CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Gender Equality and Women's and Girls' Empowerment in the Context of Food Security and Nutrition (GEWGE), along with the brochure and the video presented at the CFS 52 Forum on the Guidelines' uptake. Please share with your organizations.
Community engagement for inclusive rural transformation and gender equality – Extended deadline
The call for submissions on "Community engagement for inclusive rural transformation and gender equality" has been extended until 13 December 2024.
The call is being organized by FAO's Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division (ESP), which aims to promote the adoption and scaling-up of community engagement approaches, address barriers to their implementation and refine these practices to make them more inclusive, effective, and sustainable. This call offers a unique opportunity to enrich the ongoing dialogue on how community-led collective action can help ensure that no one is left behind. The co-facilitators of this call, Ms. Andrea Sánchez Enciso and Ms. Christiane Monsieur from FAO/ESP, posted their note for the participants here.
World Soil Day
5 December is World Soil Day (WSD), the United Nations date that celebrates healthy soils for a healthy life. Join the virtual webinar in marking a decade of soil awareness as we get together for the World Soil Day's 10th anniversary with a truly global event. Hosted for the first time outside the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) headquarters by the Kingdom of Thailand, this event coincides with the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
WTO Annual Agriculture Symposium 2024
This year's Annual Agriculture Symposium will take place virtually on Monday 9 December from 10:00 to 19:00 (CET) and is entitled Trade and Nutrition, Exploring the Nexus.
The Symposium aims to explore the critical intersections between global trade policies, food systems, and nutrition outcomes. In a world where international trade has the potential to both alleviate and exacerbate malnutrition, this Symposium will bring together policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders to discuss strategies for ensuring that trade can be leveraged to promote food security and healthy diets. It will examine how international trade affects access to affordable, nutritious foods, particularly in low-income countries, and how global supply chains can be adapted to meet the nutritional needs of a growing world population.
The event will be live on the WTO YouTube channel and comments/questions can be sent to Dialogues@wto.org.
Upcoming Events for 2024
- 2-6 December: 176th Meeting of the FAO Council
- 5 December: PSM Quarterly Call
- 9 December: WTO Dialogue on Agriculture and Food Annual Symposium
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