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Life on Land: Sustainable Solutions for Small Farmers and Food Systems

SpeakerS:

H.R.H. Prince Abdul Aziz bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Chairman, Arab Gulf Programme for Development
Dr. Nasser Alkahtani, Executive Director, Arab Gulf Programme for Development
Antoine Bisson-McLernon, McLernon, CEO, Fiera COMOX
Dr. Fatima Elsheikh, Secretary General, Arab Bank For Economic Development of Africa (BADEA)
Paul Winters, Executive Director of the Innovation Commission for Climate Change, Food Security and Agriculture, University of Chicago

“Smallholder farmers, who feed 2.5 billion people globally, are at the heart of this challenge. They produce much of the food consumed in developing nations, but they are also the most vulnerable.” H.R.H. Prince Abdul Aziz bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
“We have just six years to reach 2030, and we have achieved only 16% of the SDGs. The reason behind that is localization and coordination, and we are not taking care of the land the way it should be.” Dr. Nasser Alkahtan
“We have learned from our experience in Africa in BADEA that we cannot achieve food security in the continent or help other countries without looking at the opportunities of togetherness, working together with science institutes, universities, and academia.” Dr. Fatima Elsheikh
“This is where private-public partnerships with governments are so important, so you can have the expertise of private capital come in and be very efficient in planting those trees.” Antoine Bisson-McLernon
“We have a lot of innovations that exist, but if you look over time, adoption rates remain quite low.” Paul Winters

Key takeaways:

  • Empowering women enhances productivity and food security: Empowering women in agriculture is essential to boost productivity and ensure food security. Initiatives like AK Fund’s Farmers Hub aim to provide resources and training to women, enabling them to contribute fully to agricultural development. 
  • Smallholder farmers are vital yet vulnerable: Smallholder farmers feed 2.5 billion people globally but face significant challenges due to climate change, economic instability, and conflict, underscoring communities’ need for targeted support. 
  • Innovative financial solutions support farmers: Implementing innovative tools like weather index-based insurance and financial education help farmers manage climate risks and economic challenges, increasing their resilience.  
  • Partnerships foster sustainable agricultural systems: Collaboration between governments, international organizations, and the private sector is crucial to scale solutions addressing food insecurity, land degradation, and climate change globally. . 
  • Land restoration is key to global security and job creation: Investing in land restoration enhances productivity, prevents forced migration, and creates millions of green jobs compatible with climate solutions, promoting global security and sustainability. 
  • Innovative approaches enhance agricultural development: Utilizing science and technology, including experimental methods like randomized control trials, helps identify effective innovations to support smallholder farmers especially within digital agriculture. 
  • Urgent action needed to achieve sustainable development goals: With only 16% of SDGs achieved and six years left until 2030, there is an urgent need for localization, coordination, and improved land management to tackle climate change, land degradation, food security, and unemployment challenges. 
  • COP16 presents a significant opportunity: The upcoming COP16 in Riyadh is a pivotal moment for stakeholders to unite and address the interconnected challenges of land degradation, food insecurity, and climate change through meaningful partnerships and sustainable action.

Action items:

  • Empower women in agriculture: Implement initiatives to provide women with the necessary resources and training to actively participate in agricultural development, thereby boosting productivity and food security. 
  • Develop innovative financial products for farmers: Create and promote financial tools like weather index-based insurance to protect smallholder farmers from climate unpredictability, enhancing their economic stability. 
  • Enhance financial education for farmers: Introduce programs that equip farmers with financial skills to navigate economic challenges and make informed decisions about their livelihoods. 
  • Foster strategic partnerships: Strengthen collaborations among governments, international organizations, and the private sector to scale successful agricultural models and address global challenges effectively. 
  • Invest in land restoration projects: Prioritize investments in land restoration to increase productivity, prevent forced migration, and create green jobs, contributing to global security and sustainability. 
  • Adopt experimental approaches for innovation: Utilize methods like randomized control trials to determine the most effective innovations and strategies in agriculture, ensuring resources are allocated to solutions that work. 
  • Participate actively in international forums: Engage in events like COP16 to collaborate on addressing climate change, land degradation, and food insecurity, using these platforms to share insights and drive collective action.
  • Prioritize localization and coordination: Focus on localizing efforts and improving coordination among stakeholders to accelerate progress toward achieving the SDGs, with special attention to sustainable land management. 

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