Earlier in November, BSSS President, Jack Hannam, and Executive Director, Andy Morris, travelled to Baku for the 29th Conference of the Parties. This was the fourth year BSSS has attended the COP climate summit under our official non-governmental organisation (NGO) observer status.
During the conference, COP29 provided particular focus on the food and agriculture sector — an area often sidelined in climate discussions despite its central role in global livelihoods and its vulnerability to climate change. This sector is both a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and one of the hardest hit by climate impacts like droughts, floods, and heatwaves. A key theme at the conference was highlighting the fundamental role of farmers as key agents of climate action which represents an opportunity to drive concrete climate solutions through agrifood systems. This could be achieved through bold, data-driven climate plans and adequate ‘climate funding’.
“Agrifood system solutions are climate solutions”
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
BSSS were delighted to contribute to these discussions through our own Side Event on ‘Invest in Soil Health – fostering the future of climate change mitigation and adaptation‘. We welcomed speakers from Africa, South America, India and Europe for a diverse panel discussion around soil health, regenerative and innovative approaches, and how to leverage finance to achieve a just transition whilst championing collaboration for COP29.
The panel discussed the role of soil in different RIO conventions (climate, desertification and biodiversity), and examples of regenerative agriculture in different parts of the world. This included some unintended consequences of adopting some practices such as no till, innovative practices using grow bags and floating platforms, integrating local knowledge systems and private finance.
The expert panel featured:
- Prof. Jacqueline Hannam, BSSS President (Chair)
- Paul Luu, 4p1000 Initiative
- Dr. Dipayan Dey, South Asian Forum for Environment
- Dr. Carolina Nascimento, FOUR PAWS
- Juliana Luiz, Escolhas Institute
- Isaac Kabongo, Ecological Christian Organization
- Salome Owuonda, Africa Centre for People, Institutions and Society (ACEPIS)
We would like to thank our excellent panel for their insights and comprehensive response and discussion with the audience.
Looking forward, we will be carrying on these conversations in the sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Following our Annual Conference, we will be hosting a Side Event at COP16 on 10 December from 13:00-14:30 in MET-08 which will explore effective soil use and management to promote resilience and adaptation in the context of expanding land degradation, rising global temperatures, extreme weather events and large biodiversity loss.
“Whilst the discussions at both conferences cover the whole spectrum of sectors, it is reassuring to see the more prominent positioning agriculture and food security in the global climate agenda. Through discussions, partnerships and initiatives, we are continuing to highlight the importance of soil in mitigating climate change and will continue to reinforce this message at future conventions. It is essential that we unite voices across the sector and facilitate these positive discussions which will lead to greater action and support. This is essential in securing the future sustainability of the planet and our food source.”
Andy Morris, BSSS Executive Director
