WASHINGTON, May 8, 2023 —
The Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) Summit’s co-host, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, declared today during the summit’s opening plenary that AIM for Climate partners from all over the world are increasing investment and support for climate-smart agriculture and food system innovation.
According to Secretary Vilsack, “Climate change continues to have an impact on traditional agricultural practices in every nation, and a strong global commitment is necessary to face the challenges of climate change head-on and create more sustainable, equitable, and resilient food systems.” “The AIM for Climate Summit gives me hope that we will rise to the occasion, as future generations depend on us to do, to address the challenges of climate change and food security through innovative technology and approaches.”
She is excellent One of the main strategic pillars of the UAE’s National Food Security Strategy 2051 is strengthening national and global food security through sustainable technology and innovation, according to Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The nation hopes to improve the whole food value chain with this plan and create a sustainable future for everybody.
“Under the vision and leadership of its sage leadership, the UAE is dedicated to creating a strong framework for international cooperation to find answers to the various problems that the world’s food and agricultural systems are facing. This is done as part of a larger framework designed to address climate change and lessen its detrimental effects on the future of humanity. According to Minister Almheiri, “The AIM for Climate Initiative, launched in partnership between the UAE and the United States, embodies this crucial strategy, reflecting our commitment to transform global agricultural systems into more cutting-edge and sustainable systems to address the scarcity of water and arable land in many countries, and thereby contribute to the eradication of hunger in the world.
AIM for Climate will be introduced at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November 2021 and is co-led by the United States and the United Arab Emirates.
At the summit’s opening, Minister Almheiri, Secretary Vilsack, and Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore all spoke on stage together.
AIM for Climate Progress
Secretary Vilsack noted that the Summit is a pivotal moment to demonstrate AIM for Climate progress, as there is a global appetite to accelerate progress in meeting the challenges of global food and nutrition security and climate change. Secretary Vilsack announced new investments, partners, and resources to propel the initiative into COP28, including:
- Increased Investment: Partners have increased investment in climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation to more than $13 billion (over a 2020 baseline), exceeding the challenge by U.S. Special Envoy for Climate John Kerry at COP27 to achieve $10 billion by COP28.
- Innovation Sprints: 21 new innovation sprints totaling an additional $1.8 billion in increased investment in climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation, bringing the total number of innovation sprints to 51 (over $3 billion).
- Partners: New partners including the governments of Argentina, Fiji, Guatemala, India, Panama, Paraguay and Sri Lanka, bringing the total number of government, innovation sprints, and knowledge partners to more than 500.
USDA Science and Research Strategy
During the inaugural plenary, Secretary Vilsack also declared the publication of the “USDA Science and Research Strategy, 2023-2026: Cultivating Scientific Innovation (PDF, 21.3 MB)”. In order to develop a scientific foundation to alter the American food system and assist our country’s farmers, ranchers, producers, and foresters, this Strategy directs USDA’s science goals for the ensuing three years.
“We know that scientific innovation can enable new, cost-effective solutions for addressing some of our most daunting challenges,” Secretary Vilsack stated. We can achieve tremendous progress in the food, agricultural, and natural resource sectors thanks to this forward-looking strategy, which is in line with USDA’s strategic goals.
Accelerating Innovative Technologies & Practices, Driving Climate-Smart Solutions, Strengthening Nutrition Security & Health, Cultivating Resilient Ecosystems, and Translating Research into Action are the five scientific and research goals of the Strategy. This cross-cutting approach exemplifies how USDA science starts with innovation and moves across crucial priorities to solve the challenges facing agriculture and make sure that our research results in workable solutions to meet this moment.
Please visit www.usda.gov/topics/research-and-science to read the strategy and join the discussion.
International Climate Hub Launch
Secretary Vilsack announced the creation of the International Climate Hub website, building on the pledge made at COP27 to develop an international climate hub based on the success of its local climate hubs. By offering information and tools that are targeted to particular regions and requirements, including an emphasis on the nations and producers most vulnerable to the consequences of global climate change, this new gateway will allow science-based, climate-informed agricultural decision making.
Land managers all across the globe will be able to quantify the current and potential greenhouse gas reduction and carbon sequestration benefits of widespread agricultural conservation techniques thanks to a tool included in the International Climate Hub called the COMET-Planner Global Assessment Tool. This fundamental tool will assist quantify and illustrate the positive effects of climate-smart conservation activities on working lands throughout the world by drawing on USDA and Colorado State University’s ten years of experience developing climate-smart conservation planning tools.
The opening-day lunch session of the Summit, organized by former White House Chef Sam Kass, examined the possible effects of climate change on the accessibility of common foods. A panel discussion on the role of agri-business in promoting genuine climate action at COP28 was moderated by Diane Holdorf, Executive Vice President of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. Other panelists included the CEOs of ADM, Gro Intelligence, PepsiCo, and Planet FWD.
