{"id":14257,"date":"2023-02-03T19:59:31","date_gmt":"2023-02-04T00:59:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/?p=14257"},"modified":"2025-06-18T14:49:20","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T18:49:20","slug":"takeaways-from-the-global-forum-for-food-and-agriculture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/2023\/02\/03\/takeaways-from-the-global-forum-for-food-and-agriculture\/","title":{"rendered":"Takeaways from the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture"},"content":{"rendered":"

By<\/em>\u00a0Karly Kelso<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Global
Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) in Berlin, January 20, 2023 (BMEL\/Photothek)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Food systems transformation is increasingly getting traction globally, making the case that we can\u2019t meet our Paris climate agreements without food at and on the table. That was certainly true at the recently held <\/span>Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA)<\/span><\/a> in Berlin, known as the largest informal gathering of Agriculture Ministers.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This year\u2019s theme, \u201cFood Systems Transformation: A Worldwide Response to Multiple Crises,\u201d focused on conversations about how global food security may be achieved in the face of multiple crises, including Russia\u2019s war against Ukraine. Despite the heavy topic, a sense of energy and ambition among the attendees was evident as this event marked the first GFFA held in person since 2020, when the COVID pandemic forced global lockdowns.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The conference has historically focused on agriculture production policies, but this year was different. Conversations took a more holistic view of food systems, and our EDF team was among the voices calling for attention towards freshwater management and blue foods. Both are central to food systems but are often left out of these dialogues despite their significant contribution to the <\/span>Sustainable Development Goals<\/span><\/a> and global food and nutrition security. At GFFA, our team highlighted how EDF is advancing international recognition of these two critical aspects of food systems.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our team demonstrated the innovative tool,<\/span> OpenET<\/span><\/a>, that provides access to satellite data on water consumption on agricultural lands across 17 states in the American west. This tool supports climate-friendly food systems by enabling producers to better manage the dwindling water supplies. We highlighted the <\/span>Aquatic Blue Food Coalition<\/span><\/a> at the Innovation Forum and joined the expert panel: <\/span>Solving the Great Food Puzzle: 20 levers to scale national level action<\/span><\/a>,<\/span> where we spoke about how we are catalyzing the inclusion of blue foods into national level actions for food transformation.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While we have a long way to go, this meeting signals the growing efforts to move towards adopting a food systems approach to global food and nutrition insecurity. The <\/span>final communique<\/span><\/a> from the Ministers\u2019 meeting reflects this commitment and sets the following ambitious goals:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n