The Commonwealth Secretariat and Nigeria recently hosted a roundtable in London to address the intertwined crises of food security and climate finance, with over 80 experts participating. Discussions focused on Nigeria’s agricultural challenges, the importance of crop nutrition, and the integration of climate-smart agriculture with financing. The roundtable concluded with recommendations for holistic, cooperative approaches to enhance food systems and climate resilience.
This week, over 80 experts convened at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London to address the critical issues of food security and climate finance amid reduced global development spending. The roundtable, hosted in collaboration with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science & Technology, aimed to create actionable solutions for these interconnected challenges.
During the opening address, Commonwealth Secretary-General Rt. Hon Patricia Scotland KC stressed the urgency of the situation, highlighting that food security and climate finance are not merely policy matters, but essential to the survival of Commonwealth nations. She pointed out that current climate finance is insufficient and called for a reevaluation of developmental financing rules that hinder governmental efforts.
Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, Nigeria’s Honourable Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, outlined Nigeria’s reliance on agriculture, which comprises 25% of the nation’s GDP and supports 70% of its workforce. He emphasized the urgency of addressing the significant challenges facing the agricultural sector, including deforestation in the south and desertification in the north, which collectively threaten food security.
Experts from international NGOs noted that mere agricultural production does not guarantee food security, emphasizing the need for crop nutrition. They pointed out that while land may be cultivated, unsustainable practices such as increasing tobacco production can lead to inadequate food supply, demonstrating the complex interrelations between land use, health, and nutrition.
The discussions included smaller group sessions focused on integrating climate-smart agriculture with available capital. Participants examined carbon credits, with one delegate likening this process to navigating a complex maze. Another emphasized the importance of presenting the broader value of sustainable practices, in addition to advocating for carbon credit schemes.
The roundtable concluded with a call for holistic approaches to addressing national and continental food security challenges. Key recommendations included improved soil and water management, better agricultural production systems, and enhanced data collection mechanisms. Furthermore, participants advocated for equitable climate finance policies while developing frameworks that foster cross-departmental collaboration to enhance the effectiveness of food security efforts.
Original Source: thecommonwealth.org
