The United States and the United Arab Emirates jointly announced on Friday a collaborative project to promote environmentally sustainable agriculture globally has now amassed over $17 billion in funding.
The countries made the announcement during the COP28 summit in Dubai, adding the project is part of the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) to encourage investments in climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation to accelerate climate action.
AIM for Climate was initiated in 2021 at the COP26 summit in Glasgow and receives its funding from a combination of governmental bodies, corporations, and non-governmental organisations.
“As we convene at COP28, I am pleased to announce our new investments and partnerships under the AIM for Climate initiative.” according to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.
“Together with the UAE and our global partners, we are dedicated to meeting our climate goals, enhancing food security, and building a sustainable future for our planet.” Vilsack added.
The COP28 summit this year stands out for its focus on agriculture. “We would not be able to reach 1.5 degrees if we don’t fix our food and agriculture sectors,” stated Mariam Almheiri, the UAE’s Minister for Climate and the Environment, at a press conference in Dubai on Friday.
Past projects of AIM encompass the construction of a $500 million agricultural processing facility in Nigeria, the rehabilitation of deteriorated grazing lands in Brazil, and support for research aimed at decreasing the use of synthetic nitrogen.
The current projects cover a diverse array of sectors. Some, like a $500 million initiative for “regenerative agriculture,” don’t have a specific definition but involve a variety of strategies that persuade farmers to transition to practices that decrease emissions.
Other projects focus on areas such as food production and processing or animal feed and fertilisers.
Moreover, the most advanced initiatives include developing microbes for carbon sequestration in soil and utilising food-grade industrial waste to cultivate microalgae, which aids in land-based oyster farming.
Most of these projects are aimed at middle- and low-income nations, where farmers typically have limited access to technological resources to fight against climate change. Although several projects are designed to minimise waste, none specifically target the reduction of consumption.
Countries with higher income levels often have diets rich in resource-intensive foods such as meat and dairy, which significantly contribute to global emissions related to food.
