COP 27: Farmer Organizations Write Open Letter to World Leaders, Warns of Food Security

The warning stressed that food security happens to be at risk unless concerned authorities and governments do not raise the bar for small-scale production and promote low-input agriculture.

The letter has been issued for the world leaders to acknowledge amid the ongoing UN Climate Summit (COP27), having 90 chiefs of different states to discuss food security issues and climate change.

70+ networks working with multiple farmers, forest producers, and fisher groups across borders, including World Rural Forum are associated with over 35 million farmer families who have come together to sign the letter.

Several other prominent groups are - the Asian Farmers' Association working with 13 million members for development in low-input agriculture, the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa representing nearly 200 million small-scale farmers, and Coordinadora de Mujeres Lideres Territoriales de Mesoamerica work for a similar cause in Latin America.

Various organizations from the UK to India have signed the open letter as well.

The letter states that the present food system isn't equipped enough to tackle climate change issues even if the environmental heat is reduced up to 1.5 degrees. It further added that the top priority of the summit should be to create a food system that can work efficiently in the existing circumstances.

It stressed that those involved in small-scale production fill in for nearly 80 percent of food required in Asia and African continents and are extremely crucial in the sector. Yet in 2018, they accounted for a mere 1.7 percent of climate finance flows.

At COP27, progress in finance is the key to success. At the Glasgow climate summit in 2021, rich countries agreed to increase overall funding for adaptation to $40 billion a year by 2025.

President of Eastern Africa Farmers Federation, Elizabeth Nsimadala said that the network she works with provides food to numerous needy people and further help with employment to hundreds of individuals, though now they have reached their 'breaking point'.

She further said that the concerned forums have to ensure a huge boost to climate finance for the small-scale workers to meet with required resources, awareness, and training to continue feeding the world.

Notably, COP27 has commenced at a time when the world is witnessing a major economic crisis and inflation. Although the world has not come to a crucial food shortage situation, it is still facing extreme heat or drought in various parts across the globe, resulting in damaged or compromised harvests. Experts too have warned of harvest failures in the near future due to the climate conditions.

According to the signatories, issues related to agriculture and food have been largely underestimated during the negotiation on climate finance, despite these two being responsible for a large part of emissions. They have asked governments and boards around the globe to work together to help them create a more sustainable and stronger food system.