Empowering Smallholders for Global Food Security
To achieve global climate and developmental goals, smallholder farmers must be at the center of climate action, according to Gabriel Ferrero, strategic advisor to the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program.
Despite being a fundamental priority under the Paris Agreement, agriculture and food systems have been neglected in climate negotiations. This is alarming, given that farming and land use are highly vulnerable to climate impacts, particularly for smallholder farmers and small-scale food producers.
Agriculture significantly contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions but also holds potential solutions. However, agrifood systems receive only 4.3% of total climate finance, with smallholder farmers, who produce up to 80% of food in developing countries, receiving merely 0.
Agriculture and food systems have long been sidelined in climate negotiations.
- Smallholder farmers produce up to 80% of food in developing countries.
- Agrifood systems receive only 4.3% of total climate finance.
Author's summary: Empowering smallholders is crucial for global food security.