Session title:
"Rising to the Challenges of Climate Change: Navigation through Uncertainty" A Journey of Hope and Commitment
Abstract:
The green transition must be a co-produced endeavor that mobilizes government, the private sector, civil society, cooperatives, and local communities, and is underpinned by strong regional and international cooperation. In dryland regions—where water is the binding constraint—global uncertainty, climate extremes, and armed conflict disrupt value chains, erode food security, and intensify hunger. Meeting these interlocking risks requires a holistic, equity driven approach to agricultural research for development that strengthens the science–policy interface, prioritizes human resource development, and empowers communities at the front lines. Operationally, the building blocks of just and sustainable food systems include reducing food losses, conserving soils, and raising water-use efficiency. Evidence from dryland programs emphasizes scalable ―technology packages‖ that pair agronomy and policy: mechanized raised-bed planting to save water and energy while increasing yields; supplemental and deficit irrigation to stabilize rainfed production; and conservation agriculture with diversified rotations (including grain legumes) to restore soil function. These best-bet options both lift productivity and de-risk farmer livelihoods—especially when coupled with extension and training. Linkages and partnerships—public–private–producer collaboration and South South exchanges—create the knowledge spillovers needed to accelerate climate-smart agriculture (―Agriculture 4.0‖): digitally enabled advisory services; context-fit genetic improvement for stress tolerance; and locally adapted agro-management practices. None of these scales without sustained investments in human capacity and institutions, a point repeatedly stated. The climate signal is unequivocal: 2024 was the warmest year on record, with an annual global mean near-surface temperature about 1.55 °C above the 1850–1900 baseline. While a single year does not define the Paris Agreement’s long-term threshold, sustained anomalies near or above 1.5 °C raise the likelihood of reaching 2–3 °C by century’s end—implying accelerated sea-level rise, cryosphere loss, mounting risks to low-lying deltas, and downward pressure on agricultural productivity. Robust early-warning systems, climate services, and risk-management instruments are therefore integral to adaptation pathways. Transforming agriculture through science and innovation—anchored in circular and bioeconomy principles—remains central to safeguarding livelihoods for the roughly twoplus billion people who inhabit the world’s drylands. Demographically, most future population growth will be concentrated in lower-income countries, intensifying the urgency of food-, water-, and job-secure development pathways. Ultimately, peace, stability, and shared prosperity are enabling conditions for any of these measures to endure. Cooperation is not optional: coordinated, evidence-based action— linking technology adoption with inclusive institutions—is essential to deliver resilient, climate-smart food systems in the dry areas and beyond.