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Advancing Climate-Resilient Agri-Food Systems at COP28

Published Date
November 16, 2023
Published by
ICARDA Communication Team
ICARDA AT COP28
ICARDA AT COP28

The UNFCCC 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) is scheduled to take place in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from November 30 to December 12, 2023. With a primary focus on transforming agri-food systems for climate resilience and global food security and location in the heart of the CWANA and the Middle East drylands, COP28 holds immense significance for ICARDA, CGIAR’s drylands agricultural Research Center.

Dryland farming is critical for sustaining millions of people in dry regions, yet climate change and unsustainable practices threaten food security, livelihoods, and the land itself. Consequently, the development of resilient and sustainable agri-food systems has emerged as a crucial research area in the CWANA region and globally. Given these circumstances, Dubai serves as an ideal host country for COP28.

“To make progress on adaptation, defining success involves addressing biodiversity loss, agricultural land restoration, forest preservation, coastline protection, hunger eradication, and safeguarding lives and livelihoods globally. G20 nations should prioritize the transformation of food systems. National adaptation plans and strategies should focus on sustainable land use, leveraging technologies for crop resilience, improving nutrition, and reducing the climate impacts of farming.” – Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, President-Designate for COP28, UAE

ICARDA’s COP28 delegation, led by Aly Abousabaa, CGIAR's Regional Director for CWANA and Director General of ICARDA, will actively lead or participate in more than 20 events throughout the conference.

ICARDA will also join sister research centers at the COP28 Food Pavilion, co-convened by CGIAR, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Rockefeller Foundation, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) which will host a series of events throughout the conference.

Throughout COP28, ICARDA will highlight the importance of international collaboration in tackling climate-smart transformation in food, land, and water systems for future global food security. Urgent global action is needed to revolutionize conventional agri-food systems that are no longer fit-for-purpose, particularly in dry regions, and ICARDA will showcase how CGIAR's global agri-research expertise can be leveraged for global adaptation and mitigation in agri-challenges stemming from intensifying climate change. ICARDA will argue the case for increased global funding in agri-research by showcasing pioneering initiatives like the ICARDA-led Integrated Desert Farming Innovation Program that, given the right investment, can turn barren deserts into food production powerhouses.

ICARDA's delegation will also showcase CGIAR's new global portfolio of agricultural initiatives, emphasizing the immense research potential offered by the CWANA region, which stems from its rich biodiversity of unique plant and livestock species that have already adapted to harsh conditions, existing renewable energy projects, and well-established national climate-smart agriculture programs.

ICARDA’s Official UNFCCC Side Events
  • Transforming Drylands: Integrating Farming Innovations towards achieving WEF Nexus for Climate Resilience in the MENA region | 3 December -15:30 – 16:30 | ICARDA and IWMI
  • Addressing Interlinked Challenges of Climate Change, Peace, and Food Security in the Arab Region  | 4 December - 16:45 - 17:45 | ICARDA and AOAD
  • Cultivating Resilience: Communities, Fish and Drylands | 6 December - 16:45 – 18:30 | ICARDA, WorldFish, and WOTR

  • Role of Youth in Capacity Building and Policymaking for Climate Action in the Global South | 6 December -15:30-16:30 | ICARDA and the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT 

  • CGIAR CWANA Centers Research and Innovation Panel Discussion | 9 December - 10:30 - 12:00 | ICARDA, IFPRI, IWMI, and WorldFish 

The ICARDA delegation at COP28
  • Aly Abousabaa, ICARDA Director General and CGIAR CWANA Regional Director
  • Neal Gutterson, Board Chair
  • Roula Majdalani, Senior Climate Change Advisor
  • Michael Baum, Deputy Director General, and Research Team Leader
  • Abdoul Aziz Niane, Regional Coordinator of the Arabian Peninsula Research Program
  • Vinay Nangia, Soils, Water, and Agronomy Research Team Leader
  • Ajit Govind, Senior Climate Scientist and Systems Modeler
  • Garrick Long, Special Advisor to the Director General
  • James Pursey, Senior Communications Manager
  • Mahmoud Khedr, Partnerships and Engagement Officer