Regen10's reflections from UNCCD COP16

Regen10 attended UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh, where there was an impressive gathering of food system stakeholders and a growing emphasis on the critical role agrifood systems can play in addressing desertification. This event - like the UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP16) and UNFCCC COP29, where Regen10 was also in attendance?- demonstrates a growing recognition that transforming global agrifood systems is not just a necessity, but a key opportunity to address intersecting crises.

Global agrifood systems are currently a driving cause of environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas emissions. Through more sustainable land management, we can grow more resilient crops, nurture healthier soils and wildlife, and provide nutritious food for an increasing population.?

Our Director Tara Shyam participated in a number of engaging discussions alongside Regen10 partners and friends, where she advocated for more inclusive multi-stakeholder engagement – with farmers and local?communities at the center – and spoke to the costs, benefits, and tradeoffs?of a regenerative transition.

Tara also spoke about?Regen10’s upcoming Outcomes Framework, which is being updated following on-the-ground trials and consultations throughout 2024. The?holistic and farmer-centric Framework provides a first step in driving alignment across sectors on the outcomes of regenerative agrifood systems at both farm and landscape levels, promotes holistic approaches and context-specific decision making, and provides a foundation for assessments.?

Tara engaged with a diversity of food system actors throughout her time in Riyadh – including farmers, Indigenous leaders, businesses and NGOs – marking a strengthening focus on agrifood systems this year than in previous UNCCD COPs.

While this momentum is unfortunately underscored by the global increase in desertification and degraded land, food system actors around the world are driving ambition and action for a transition for people, nature, and planet.?This multi-stakeholder collaboration will be critical to ensuring solutions are both practical and scalable, and addressing the root causes of degradation rather than just its symptoms.?It is essential that we continue to build momentum across the Rio Conventions, raising food systems on the global agenda and ensuring that they are embedded in action plans for desertification, alongside climate and biodiversity.

The launch of the Riyadh Action Agenda is a clear mark of ambition to mobilize multiple stakeholders?to conserve and restore 1.5 billion hectares of land by 2030. Promoting sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food systems is a key action area, weaving efforts to improve soil health, foster landscape-level approaches, increase investment, and promote context-specific and holistic approaches. A transition to regenerative agriculture will be critical, centering the needs and knowledge of farmers and land stewards?and integrating social outcomes alongside economic and environmental ones.

Regen10 is pleased to have signed on in support of the Action Agenda, offering our upcoming Outcomes Framework as an inclusive, guiding star to inform decision making around truly regenerative agrifood systems. As we move towards 2025, we continue to work with our partners as well as stakeholders from across the food systems space to achieve an equitable, resilient, and regenerative transition for all.

Find out more about our work: https://regen10.org/what-we-do/

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