Food Forever at COP23

Food Forever at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bonn.

As part of the Conference of Parties (COP23), held in Bonn from 6-17 November 2017, Food Forever hosted a side event: Food Biodiversity for Greater Climate Resilience to consider the role of crop and livestock diversity in the ongoing climate discussions.  

The event featured a set of introductory presentations followed by a moderated panel discussion that focused on how we can respond to climate change while striving to ensure food, forever. You can watch the full video here!

During the event, speakers highlighted the essential role that agricultural systems play in the global solutions to adapt to and mitigate climate change.

Dr. Hannes Dempewolf, Crop Trust Head of Global Initiatives said: “There is power in diversity. Diversity gives us options to develop varieties that require less inputs, cook faster, store better, sequester more carbon and more – ensuring that we  have food, forever.”

The incredible amount of biodiversity in our food systems is one of the most valuable yet least recognized answers in adapting agriculture to climate challenges. Through conventional breeding, we can use the diversity that exists within crop and livestock species to develop improved varieties and breeds to withstand higher temperatures, drought or new pests and diseases. This resource can also be used to breed crops that are able to help mitigate climate change by requiring less inputs, such as nitrogen-based fertilizers, or that can serve as carbon sinks.

Download the full program.