In an unprecedented collaborative effort, the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) came together with the world’s major agricultural institutions with a united voice encouraging negotiators in Copenhagen to recognize that forestry and agriculture are interlinked and part of the solution to climate change.  They came to the unanimous conclusion that forestry and agriculture are where poverty reduction, food security and climate change intersect and must be addressed in an integrated fashion by government negotiators at Cop 15.

A Joint Statement - Beyond Copenhagen: Agriculture and Forestry Are Part of the Solution brought together outcomes from three separate but closely related events held in the days prior: Agriculture and Rural Development Day, Forest Day Three and the FAO Climate Change and Food Security side event at a COP 15.

All agreed that food security is critical and should be integrated in the shared vision of the Long Term Cooperative Action text, in order to open the door to adaptation and mitigation support. Moreover, they urged climate negotiators to agree on the early establishment of an agricultural work program under the SBSTA and to look for agreement that REDD  include agriculture, forestry and other land uses. Crucially, the Joint Statement underlines the importance that LULUCF accounting system be favorable and inclusive of agriculture.

IFAP President Ajay Vashee, who presented the Joint Statement, said “We need to build institutional capacity to deal with these issues, especially for farmers’ organizations. My main message to negotiators is that if you ignore what we are saying, you are doing so at your own peril. You have a moral and ethical responsibility to listen to the voices that are giving you these messages.”

Alexander Muller, FAO, highlighted the need for financial resources and an international architecture to support the institution building, capacity building and knowledge management needed to meet the threats climate change presents to global food security.

In summarizing key messages to the climate negotiators, M.S. Swaminathan, President of the M.S. Swaminathan Foundation, advised to “defend the gains already made in fighting climate change, extend the gains through new investments and create new gains through greater social inclusion and access to technology.”

In the joint statement, the partners concluded that a commitment to strengthening cross-sectoral cooperation to address the drivers of deforestation, enhance sustainable agricultural growth and foster rural development is paramount, while recognizing that addressing climate change is fundamental to food security and poverty reduction today and for future generations.

Joint Statement: http://www.ifap.org/knowledge-base/detail/en/?dyna_fef%5Buid%5D=38247

Special Earth News Bulletin devoted to Agriculture and Rural Development: http://www.ifap.org/knowledge-base/detail/en/?dyna_fef%5Buid%5D=38249

Special issue of Outreach on IFAP’s priorities at COP 15 with article by Nora Ourabah, IFAP Senior Policy Officer: http://www.ifap.org/knowledge-base/detail/en/?dyna_fef%5Buid%5D=38261

IFAP Page devoted to climate change issues, with case studies highlighting effective ways to mitigate and adapt to climate change through agriculture: http://www.ifap.org/events/story/climate_change

Organizers included the Food and Agriculture Organization, International Federation of Agriculture Producers, International Fund for Agricultural Development, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research and its Challenge Program on Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security, Global Donor Platform for Rural Development, University of Copenhagen Faculty of Life Sciences, Center for International Forestry Research, and the Collaborative Partnership on Forests.

IFAP is the farmers' voice at the world level, and has been advocating farmers’ interests at the international level since 1946. IFAP’s mission is to develop farmers’ capacities to influence decisions that affect them at both the domestic and international levels.