#Farmers are part of the Action for #COP26 and are #climatesolutions

Just four days ago at #COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, was a big day for agriculture producers worldwide as farmers and ranchers were center stage in the Action Track.

?I was humbled to represent USFRA — US Farmers & Ranchers in Action and facilitate the Action Track panel on #Natureday representing #naturebasedsolutions on the topic of #food and #agriculture.

?Special thanks to the producer groups who worked to develop the Producer Showcase of Action, delivered by Mateusz Ciasnocha, European Carbon Farmers & RTZ Youth Fellow, High Level Champion young fellow and Elizabeth Nsimadala President?Eastern Africa Farmers Federation, and Director Women Affairs Pan Africa Farmers Organization.?

The Producer showcase could not have been possible without World Farmers' Organisation - Arianna Giuliodori,?Theo De Jager,?Ambra Raggi,?Luisa Volpe,?Valeria Di Marzo,?Minette Batters?Ceris Jones,?Baltic Sea Action Group?with?Laura H?ijer?and?Elisa Vainio. Individually and collectively, we worked to ensure there would be a producer showcase. Chair Anne Meis, of U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action.

?Special thanks to these panelists who shared insights on transforming agriculture and food systems to maximize the reduction of GHG emissions, while making these systems resilient to climate change impacts.

?Diane Holdorf - Leading Collaboration at WBSD as the Managing Director of Food & Nature, and the launch of Regen10

Joao Campari - Global Leader, Food Practice, WWF International & who facilitated thousands of sessions as part of ?Action Track 3, #UNFSS2021

Gunhild Anker Stordalen - EAT Foundation? and working to mobilize good food finance

M. Ann Tutwiler - Meridian Institute and working to lead the JUST Rural transition

Zitouni Ould-Dada - Deputy Director, Office of Climate Change, Environment and Biodiversity, FAO, who is Leading the implementation of Climate #UNFSS2021 at FAO

Things I heard repeatedly: farmers need to be included as part of the solutions, finance needs to be mobilized, and there is a lot of great work already going on with these coalitions.

?In fact, it is my hope – and I share the panelists’ sentiment – that we need a Farmer and Food Day at #COP27!

?We only have nine harvests until 2030. We must honor them. To ?honor our harvest, treat our food as a natural resource harvested from the hard work of farmers, don’t take too much, don’t waste, provide and give within our communities to ensure a harvest and dinner is available, ?and enable are farmers on the challenge of life time.

?To quote Theo DeJager, "Let us not just be called to the table, let us be called into the

kitchen for the recipes and solutions on climate."

Since Theo said that at the closing ceremony of the #UNFSS it has been a motivating force and we decided to do something about it. Sooo we marched as only one does at COP26. ?

?As we left the stage, we walked in Action!

?We literally left the Action Stage in a march led by our farmers in a symbolic gesture to the kitchen on Saturday. Led by Chair Anne Meis of U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action, Mateusz Ciasnocha, and Elizabeth Nsimadala . That impromptu act symbolized Agri-CULTURE — a culture of people who walk on the lands, whose footprints are in nature, and are the “eco” workforce now and tomorrow. We walked to thank the chefs, who represent the handprint we have in our communities, and to give thanks to those who served us meals throughout the week. The farmers march symbolized the action farmers and ranchers take with boots on the ground, who are in harvest right now, making a difference, taking action as only farmers and ranchers know how to do.

?We are called to the kitchen to develop recipes for the solutions that are needed to nourish a growing population and address the challenge of climate change. Let us continue to walk forward as we collaborate towards #COP27.

?I must communicate a huge thanks to ALL who participated — this symbolic walk to the kitchen will be bigger than ever at #COP27.

?And finally — a special thanks to Nigel Topping, Gonzalo Mu?oz Abogabir, and Federico Bellone for believing in this panel and the need for it as part of the #RacetoZero and #RacetoResiliance … and of course, Nikki Feltham for some late nights and Mateusz Ciasnocha for making this a reality.??