COP30, FederBio's appeal

To address the climate emergency and ensure equity and food security, we need to radically transform food production and consumption models.

In line with the FAO's position, FederBio is calling on international leaders gathered at COP30, currently taking place in Belém, in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon, to recognize sustainable and resilient agri-food systems as essential solutions to reducing the climate footprint and feeding people while regenerating the planet.

Through an agroecological approach, of which organic and biodynamic practices are the most advanced, agriculture can transform from a source of emissions into a crucial ally in combating global warming and mitigating increasingly frequent and devastating extreme weather events.

At the Climate Summit, the transformation of agriculture and food systems represents this year's third of the six strategic pillars of the Action Agenda and will be at the heart of the sessions on 19 and 20 November.

"It is particularly significant that, for the first time in the history of COP, two days will be dedicated to agriculture and food ," emphasized Maria Grazia Mammuccini, President of FederBio . " The climate emergency and food systems are two sides of the same coin. The negative impact of intensive practices on the environment, climate, and economy is now evident to everyone. It is therefore urgent to transform the way we grow, distribute, and consume food. Time to act is running out, so we urge COP30 to make binding commitments and take concrete action to convert intensive agricultural systems, responsible for over a third of CO2 emissions and ecosystem degradation, into sustainable models. A radical paradigm shift is needed to effectively respond to today's challenges: focusing on sustainable and resilient agriculture, based on practices that protect ecosystem services capable of ensuring justice and food security for future generations."

Scientific studies demonstrate that adopting agroecological practices produces multiple climate, environmental, and social benefits, regenerating soil fertility and increasing biodiversity. Organically managed soils have higher biomass, greater stability, and greater biodiversity than conventional soils and tend to have a better water-retention capacity, providing protection from drought and floods.

According to the report “Study on the environmental impacts of achieving 25% organic land by 2030” by Nicolas Lampkin and Katrin Padel, reaching 25% organic agricultural land in the EU would eliminate 68 million tonnes of CO2 per year, equivalent to a reduction of approximately 15% in total greenhouse gas emissions from EU agriculture.

The study also highlights that the transition to organic farming would lead to a 30% increase in biodiversity and a 90-95% reduction in the use of synthetic chemical pesticides.

Further confirmation of the climate resilience and environmental benefits of agroecology comes from the Fibl Institute's DOK Trial , one of the largest and longest-running comparative experiments, which since 1978 has compared organic, biodynamic, and conventional farming systems. The evidence has amply demonstrated that organic soils can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 44%, improving soil health and fertility. The results demonstrate that organic farming, by using water more efficiently, is more resistant to periods of drought.

Finally, the Rodale Institute’s “ Farming Systems Trial ,” one of the largest and most authoritative trials, which has been ongoing for over 40 years, finds that organic farming has the potential to deliver up to 40% higher yields in drought conditions than conventional farming systems while using 45% less energy.

"Achieving climate goals and ensuring healthy food for all is possible: we must put investments in agroecology and policies for food security and sovereignty at the center of negotiations, enhancing local food supply chains and rural communities," concludes Mammuccini . "If we don't quickly implement a drastic change of direction to counter the increasingly devastating effects of climate change, the consequences will be truly irreversible. The solutions are ready; we ask governments to have the foresight to place them at the center of the international climate agenda. Rethinking food production, distribution, and consumption while respecting the environment, biodiversity, and soil is no longer an option, but a necessary condition for building a sustainable, safe, and just future for all."