Podcast Summary: How Agricultural Innovation and Science Can Help Tackle Climate Change

Podcast: This Week in Global Development
Host: Kate Warren (Devex)
Guests: Emily Reese (President & CEO, CropLife International), Lori Goodwin (VP, Public Affairs & Communications, CropLife International)
Date: November 15, 2024

Episode Overview

In this special COP29 edition, host Kate Warren and her guests delve into the pivotal role of agricultural innovation and science in both mitigating and adapting to the challenges of climate change. With global food systems under increasing pressure from climate impacts, the discussion explores practical advances, systemic barriers, recent policy milestones (like the G20 Agricultural Ministers Declaration), finance challenges, and the crucial collaboration required between public, private, and farming communities. The conversation is rich with examples, policy insights, and a strong emphasis on the lived realities of farmers at the frontline of climate resilience.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Dual Role of Agriculture in Climate Change

Emily Reese sets the scene by emphasizing agriculture as both a driver and a solution to climate change, framing the sector’s challenges and opportunities:

• Climate change is profoundly disrupting global agricultural production through:
  • More frequent and intense extreme weather (droughts, heatwaves, floods)
  • Increased movement and threat of pests and diseases
  • Direct threats to crop yields and farmer livelihoods
• “There’s going to be a real need now to optimize what we call climate smart agriculture, resilient agricultural practices. And… innovative technologies in achieving that.” — Emily Reese (02:41)

Innovative solutions discussed:

• Integrated pest management
• Advances in plant science: new breeding techniques, biotechnology, genomic technologies
• Digital precision farming and artificial intelligence (AI) to increase yield and resilience

2. Moving from Declarations to Implementation at COP29

Lori Goodwin reflects on the growing prominence of agriculture at climate negotiations:

• Push to move beyond talk—towards operationalization and real farm-level action
• Making sure high-level declarations (like last year’s UAE declaration) lead to practical, country-level results
• “A lot of the negotiations… end up implemented at the farm level because we’re talking about land.” — Lori Goodwin (05:39)

3. Barriers to Scaling Agricultural Innovation

Both guests highlight interconnected challenges:

• Trade barriers: The complexity of global supply chains and moving produce/technology internationally
• Regulatory hurdles: Need for robust, enabling policy frameworks for innovation “from lab to field”
• Digital divide: For AI/digital ag, infrastructure gaps can leave smallholders behind
• Financial constraints: Both public and private investment are crucial, yet under-resourced
• Knowledge exchange: Beyond R&D, farmers need support and training to implement tech effectively

Notable Quote:

• “It’s one thing to have research and development and new products sitting on a shelf, it’s another to get them into the field.” — Lori Goodwin (08:33)

4. The G20 Agricultural Ministers Declaration: A Platform for Action

• Emily Reese emphasizes the G20’s unique role in facilitating global coordination, especially as the formal multilateral system becomes more complex:
  • The recent G20 meeting in Brazil saw unprecedented inclusivity (over 50 governments), reflecting broad consensus and collaboration
  • The declaration mirrored expert NGO and business recommendations (notably from the B20 grouping) to governments
  • Challenge: Move past statements to structured, ongoing agricultural workstreams—especially as the South African G20 presidency begins
  • “In a way, we saw those recommendations closely mirrored… in the points that governments were ascribing to. …And now, we need… implementation.” — Emily Reese (12:47, 13:55)

5. COP29 as “The Finance COP” and the Case for Investing in Agriculture

• Only about 4.5% of climate finance currently targets agriculture – a striking disconnect given ag’s climate significance
• Need for more than just funding—policy incentives, robust R&D, public-private collaborations all play vital roles
• “If agriculture truly is part of the solution, then maybe that’s an important conversation for people to have in Baku… such a small portion is distributed to… the sectors where we can see true tangible and implementable solutions.” — Lori Goodwin (21:20)

6. Tangible Innovation Examples

• Emily Reese:
  • Precision/digital agriculture (“digitalization of agriculture”):
    • Empowers even remote smallholders via mobile technology
    • Optimizes inputs (water, nutrients), raises yields, limits expansion into natural habitats
    • Contributes to restoration of degraded lands – a win on both food and biodiversity
    • “It’s a real digital revolution, a farming revolution that we’re seeing… it is really quite astonishing what we can do now with digital technologies.” (24:18)
  • Cover crops: Simple practices like these greatly boost soil health and carbon sequestration
• Lori Goodwin:
  • Cites the Sustainable Pesticide Management Framework:
    • A holistic approach that combines new tech with responsible training, regulatory safeguards, and ongoing pipeline of new solutions
    • Early results promising in Kenya, Morocco, and more: “We have to be working with others and governments, partners, farm organizations to really make a success of these types of programs that are integrated and holistic.” (29:31)

7. The Critical Role of Farmer Representation

• Both guests underscore the need for farmers to have direct input into global discussions:
  • “I really loathe to speak on behalf of farmers… sometimes asking them what they need is a really great start to really implement all of the solutions.” — Lori Goodwin (31:09)
  • “I’m often reminded that farmers are one of the sectors where there is no roof. So there is no way of replacing having farmers at the table in these discussions.” — Emily Reese (31:47)
• Importance of rural-urban bridges—public policy must reconnect food producers and consumers to close divides

8. Traditional Knowledge Meets Modern Innovation

• It’s not “either/or”: Both indigenous practices and cutting-edge science must be integrated for a resilient future
• “A lot of these things can work together in systems… It’s about having more tools.” — Lori Goodwin (35:56)
• New genomic research often builds on traits from ‘minor’ or ‘orphan’ crops, blending traditional crops with new technology
• “We need… more integration, maybe more discussion as well, and conversations … about how we can integrate traditional knowledge also into modern practices.” — Emily Reese (37:19)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We’re talking about the droughts, heat waves, floods… and the movement of pests and diseases. Those pests and diseases, they end up damaging crops, they really do… adversely affect the livelihoods of farmers around the world.”
  — Emily Reese (02:14)

• “How do we make sure… these things are feasible, that they’re implementable and that they’re giving farmers more access to the tools that they’re going to need to adapt and become more climate resilient…?”
  — Lori Goodwin (05:54)

• “Digitalization of agriculture… is emerging as one of those critical tools… with farmers around the world able to access digital tools from their phones. This is a game changer…”
  — Emily Reese (23:44)

• “I really loathe to speak on behalf of farmers… asking them what they need is a really great start to really implement all of the solutions…”
  — Lori Goodwin (31:09)

• “We need to reconnect consumers with their food systems and where… agricultural produce is made and is coming from.”
  — Emily Reese (34:00)

Important Timestamps

• 01:14 Setting the scene: agriculture as driver & solution to climate change
• 05:08–06:26 COP29: from discussion to action, barriers to implementation
• 07:03–09:48 Barriers: trade, regulation, digital divide, financing, knowledge exchange
• 10:16–14:38 G20 Declaration: global leadership, implementation challenges
• 15:16–16:52 Making agriculture central in COP processes and in national adaptation plans
• 18:05–22:40 Regulatory frameworks, integrating agriculture in climate policy, finance for innovation
• 23:13–26:56 Examples of digital ag, biostimulants, cover crops, conservation
• 27:46–30:20 Public-private collaboration, Sustainable Pesticide Management Framework
• 31:07–32:12 Farmer voice and agency in climate forums
• 33:08–35:10 Bridging the rural-urban divide; food as a unifying global issue
• 35:50–38:10 Integrating traditional & modern approaches; whole value chain innovation

Conclusion

This conversation underscores that agricultural innovation—spanning advanced digital tools, new plant science techniques, inclusive policies, and revived traditional practices—is critical to tackling climate change. Yet, systemic barriers, underinvestment in agri-climate finance, and the persistent need to center farmer voices remain key challenges. With COP29 and COP30 on the horizon, the time is ripe to turn declarations into action, and ensure food and agriculture move from the periphery to the heart of climate solutions.

For further updates on COP29 and agriculture/climate discussions, listeners are invited to subscribe to the This Week in Global Development podcast and Devex Newswire.