Page 56 - FAO-IPCC Expert meeting on climate change

Policies for land use, sustainable food production and consumption and climate action
5.3.2 Comprehensive − not-piecemeal (or fragmented) − policies with a long-term view are more robust
In terms of climate change and food security, it is essential that policies are designed comprehensively, since the piecemeal approach is ineffective. A longer-term and all-encompassing view of the future is essential, within which each policy measure is tailored accordingly. Focus should be placed on the rural populations that are likely to remain so in the future. Some macroeconomic trends have been beyond the scope of the policy-maker, often driven by trade, investment or the internal dynamics that relate to migration patterns, all of which are transforming the food production sector. Food security at the macro level is dependent largely on the external dynamics of the agricultural sector. Economic development policy, therefore, must encapsulate the agriculture sector in its aim is to strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers.
Finally, socio-economic policies that target smallholders should not only strengthen their resilience but also reduce the risks they face from climate change. They should promote the diversification of farming, mixed cropping to temper
the impacts of climate variability and income stabilization, as well as ensure the availability of diverse and nutritious food production. It is essential that the dimensions of various livestock systems are taken into consideration, as well
as the different types of farms. Mixing cropping with livestock is an essential diversification strategy in some farming systems. Such diversity calls for tailored interventions and objectives based on local circumstances. There is no one-size- fits-all solution to climate change; that is, not all measures and practices have win-win outcomes and so appropriate trade-off management should be incorporated into the policy design. In terms of biodiversity, crop rotation is key and should be promoted not solely for its benefit to soil health. In addition, socio-economic policy should encourage crop diversification, including at local level. The basis is to maximize the number of food crops given the availability of water resources and the local agro-ecology.
Of paramount concern in the food production and food security policy design scenario is food nutrition which is multifaceted and covers chronic undernutrition and metabolic diseases, such as overweight and obesity. By improving the shares of fruit and vegetables and promoting a more diversified diet, policies can potentially correct or prevent nutrition imbalances to some extent. In place of modelling agricultural systems for large crops, diversified agricultural systems should be encouraged. Once this has been taken into account, the climate change mitigation and adaptation objectives can be better determined. Ultimately, the landscape management level emerges, taking into account landscape, soil, water and biodiversity.
5.4 The long view: transforming the food system under the twin challenges of climate change and the environment
There is a crucial need to engage in a higher-level debate on the long-term win-win solutions to climate change. With only a narrow focus on agenda items, it is difficult to gain a broader and global perspective in order to understand the potential dynamics to effectively change the way food is produced and consumed. Minor adjustments and tweaks to policies in place will not achieve the desired objective of 2 oC world. The expansion of knowledge and understanding, as well as creativity and especially the sharing of knowledge, including that of failure (more often avoided than not), will be far more reaching.
The roles of ecology and economics together in the food system, and the natural resources that support it, should be rethought. This can be brought about only through a dialogue that takes into account the significant and fundamental transformation of the food system in the face of climate change and sustainability challenges.
In mainstream economics, the environment is considered a resource flow rather than stock, with technology as a process and the unit of analysis the margin (i.e. marginal benefit against marginal cost). This inevitably leads to a focus on efficiency, which generates a significantly strong bias that inputs − natural capital and human-made labour − are substitutes for one another and can be traded away at the margin. Accordingly, progress is deterministic and relates to the monotonic change of technology. Only when a market value is placed on natural capital can everything be compared. When taking into account natural capital as an ecosystem service, it becomes a major challenge.
FAO-IPCC Expert meeting on climate change, land use and food security