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Investments in climate-smart agriculture and agrifood system innovation are on the rise, according to the Agricultural Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) summit, a joint initiative by the United States and the United Arab Emirates. The summit has brought together over 500 stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, including policymakers, industry leaders, producers, civil society representatives, scientists, and researchers from around the world.

On the first day of the summit, United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack discussed the impact of climate change on agricultural practices with former Vice President Al Gore, who was awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize along with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Vilsack announced that the US will invest $10 billion in research to reduce methane gas emissions, a major greenhouse gas from livestock production.

AIM for Climate also aims to increase international cooperation to improve the sustainability of agrifood systems, with a focus on tackling water scarcity, arable land shortages, and poverty. According to Mariam Almheiri, the UAE’s Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, the summit reflects a decision to create “more modern and sustainable agrifood systems”.

Regenerative agriculture practices, such as crop rotation, agroforestry, and direct seeding, were also discussed at the summit. Al Gore highlighted the importance of measuring carbon sequestration in soils, calling it “one of the most effective ways to pull carbon out of the atmosphere”, and argued that farmers should be compensated for this. IICA Director General Manuel Otero will participate in a panel discussion on innovation at the summit, alongside other speakers from Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

The summit is expected to accelerate the implementation of innovative approaches to guarantee food and nutrition security, with nearly 50 governments participating in the initiative. Vilsack stressed the importance of working together to advance food security through the use of innovative technology, making sure that these new technologies and best practices are accessible to both large agricultural companies and small farmers.