Director analysing resilient agriculture systems at COP27

80% of Vanuatu’s population depends entirely on agriculture for daily subsistence and well-being. The sector needs to be resilient to keep meeting people’s needs.

The Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), Antoine Ravo, said his aim of participating in the side events at COP27 in Egypt is to explore climate-resilient agriculture systems that can meet the changing climate conditions in Vanuatu, and set up networks.

COP27 side events are happening every day since day one. There are showcases of innovative solutions that can help countries adapt and protect their food systems.

Food production globally is at risk due to extreme weather events. Agriculture depends on good weather. Changes in climate affects sustainability of agriculture and food security which then put livelihoods are at risk due to dependence on agriculture.

Director Ravo said he wants to find research training opportunities that could boost climate resilience of the sector. He said he will be reaching out to partners for capacity building on soil management, agriculture water, breeding new crop varieties and genomics adaptability for pests and diseases, to help reduce the cost of production.

He said he is interested in finding out solutions for the control of Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB). The coconut industry and livelihoods are at risk because of CRB.

Ravo said participating at COP27 is a great opportunity to negotiate with advanced countries. He is seriously pursuing the establishment of new opportunities and potential partnerships.

There is a Food and Agriculture Pavilion at the COP venue. The pavilion is hosted by the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), CGIAR, a global partnership that unites international organizations engaged in research about food security, and the Rockefeller Foundation. Panels will highlight agriculture issues and need for reform.

Established at COP23 in 2017, the only program under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that focusses on agriculture and food security was the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture (KJWA). KJWA has been considered the formal mechanism for discussing food at COP.