Increase agricultural productivity sustainably, resiliently and without expanding into high-carbon, biodiverse ecosystems

Transforming agricultural production to meet climate, nature and equity goals

Agricultural production is responsible for 11% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Agricultural expansion is also a primary driver of deforestation and other types of ecosystem conversion and degradation, which in turn lead to biodiversity loss and emissions from land-use changes. Climate change exacerbates these pressures, with staple crop yields projected to drop 9% to 22% by 2100. Simultaneously, 3.8 billion people depend on agri-food systems for livelihoods. Significant changes to agricultural production are needed to produce enough nutritious food to meet demand while limiting warming to 1.5 degrees C (2.7 degrees F), conserving biodiversity on-farm and off-farm, and safeguarding livelihoods.
 

Advancing climate-smart agriculture

Transforming food and agricultural production requires cutting emissions — namely agricultural methane and nitrous oxide — while sustainably increasing production to meet growing demand for food.

It will take a variety of approaches to reduce emissions intensity faster than demand growth across key areas of agricultural production, including enteric fermentation, manure management, soil fertilization and rice cultivation. At the same time, intensifying climate impacts threaten farmers’ livelihoods, productivity and ability to minimize environmental harms. Increasing agricultural insurance and high-quality off-farm employment opportunities can improve rural communities’ resilience to climate impacts.
 

Balancing agricultural growth with biodiversity protection

It will also be critical to implement sustainable farming practices that simultaneously make existing farmland more productive while reducing harms to species and ecosystems. Curbing the expansion of pastureland, cropland and land for aquaculture ponds, as well as closing yield gaps in low-productivity regions, are all necessary to reduce deforestation and other land-use changes, and their associated off-farm biodiversity losses. Efforts should prioritize increasing the productivity of a diversity of nutritious crops for people to eat rather than focusing on only a few staple crops used for biofuels, livestock feed or processed foods.

Soil erosion and agricultural runoff are also major drivers of biodiversity loss in freshwater and marine ecosystems. Reducing the overuse of water, pesticides, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, and antimicrobials, while also addressing land degradation, can help conserve biodiversity, increase carbon sequestration and reduce vulnerability to environmental shocks. Diversifying crops and livestock species in production and conservation can also increase resilience to pests, pathogens and climate change. Implementing sustainable farming solutions to enhance on-farm biodiversity requires careful consideration to balance short-term yield risks with long-term climate resilience. More food can be produced on less land and with fewer environmental impacts by scaling the adoption of local context-specific solutions, such as agroecological practices, precision agriculture and adopting water-efficient technologies.
 

Supporting farmers and rural livelihoods

Improving producer livelihoods and advancing socioeconomic development, particularly for smallholder farmers, is essential to achieve an equitable and sustainable food system. Improving access to credit, markets, electricity, mobile phones and other technologies, as well as high-quality veterinary and extension services, especially in developing countries, can advance the adoption of climate-smart and sustainable production practices while supporting livelihoods. It will also be necessary to address structural barriers such as insecure land rights, gender disparities and harmful subsidies, among other governance-related challenges.
 

Urgent action is needed for sustainable agriculture

Progress so far is limited. While one indicator, dairy productivity, is on track and eight are moving in the right direction, significant challenges remain, such as continued cropland expansion, rising emissions and increased pesticide use. However, countries and companies are beginning to take action to reduce emissions and increase resilience in the agricultural sector through their climate strategies. Policies are also needed to limit pollution and improve nutrient use, soil health and water resources management in agricultural practices, while restricting agricultural expansion. Accelerating progress in sustainable agriculture will also require scaling context-specific solutions. These efforts must be bolstered by broader efforts to increase finance to support the adoption of existing solutions and to advance research and development of new solutions.