ICARDA DryArc event at COP25

Conference COP 25 took place under the Presidency of the Government of Chile and was held with logistical support from the Government of Spain. 

The key objectives of the Conference were to take the next crucial steps in the UN climate change process, complete several matters with respect to the full operationalization of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, and build ambition ahead of 2020, the year in which countries have committed to submit new and updated national climate action plans. Crucial climate action work will be taken forward in areas including finance, the transparency of climate action, forests and agriculture, technology, capacity building, loss and damage, indigenous peoples, cities, oceans and gender.

More about the conference

ICARDA Side Event: Building a research-for-development partnership for thriving drylands in a changing climate

The side event was led by ICARDA with the support of the Indian National Council for Climate Change Sustainable Development and Public Leadership (NCCSD) NCCSD.

• Dr. Vinay Nangia coordinates ICARDA’s research team on soil, water, and agronomy and chaired the event. Dr. Nangia presented the DryArc Initiative which is a joint CGIAR initiative in the making and involves eight CGIAR centers, national partners, advanced research institutions and farming communities from the dryland countries stretching from China to Morocco.
• Other presenters included Drs. Kirit Shelat and V. Sadamate of NCCSD who presented on the Indian farmers’ prospective on climate-smart agriculture interventions and the Indian Government’s efforts in trying to double the farmers’ income by 2022.
• Dr. Eve Crowley, FAO Deputy Regional Representative for South America and the Caribbean region represented the FAO Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture (GACSA) and the Office of South-South Cooperation (OSS). She informed audience of the projected changes in the climate in the dry areas, significance of the dry areas for the global agriculture and the efforts FAO is making in helping develop solutions by providing scientific leadership and financing for research.
• Dr. Yaosheng Wang of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) made a presentation on behalf of CAAS Vice President Prof. Xurong Mei elaborating on the Chinese Government’s efforts in meeting the SDG goals and investing in dryland agriculture research. He informed audience that China has met the SDG goal on zero hunger and expects to meet the goal of zero poverty in coming years. He announced the plan for an international dryland agriculture conference in Beijing in October, 2020.

• Dr. Rajendra Shende, Chairman, TERRE Policy Center is a former director of UNEP having spent over two decades working there. He presented on the food-energy-water (FEW) nexus and the transformative innovation in dryland management through agro-hydro-voltaic interventions.
• Dr. Rachael McDonnell is Strategic Program Director on water, climate change and resilience at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), based at Rome. Dr. McDonnell made a presentation on the approaches to smart agricultural water management in the dry areas
• Dr. Susanta Kundu, Chief Operating Officer of the Excel Innovation Center at Mumbai presented the work of the private sector in the dry areas of India on adapting to climate change and associated problems.

Presentations

Dr. Vinay Nangia, Global Lead – Soil, water, and Agronomy, ICARDA - Building a research-for-development partnership for thriving drylands in a changing climate

Dr. Kirit Shelat and Dr. V. Sadamate, Executive Chairman, National Council for Climate Change, Sustainable Development and Public Leadership (NCCSD) - Building Climate Smart FARMERS The Indian Perspective 

Dr. Yaosheng Wang, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science (CAAS) - Dryland Agriculture R&I in China: Actions towards SDGs 2030

Dr. Rajendra Shende, Chairman, TERRE Policy Center  - Disruptive innovation in dryland management: Food, Energy and Water (FEW) nexus approach - FEW Three in One Food Energy and Water 

Dr. Rachael McDonnell, International Water Management Institute (IWMI) - Just Add Water: Approaches to Smart Agricultural Water Management 

Dr. Susanta Kundu, Chief Operating Officer, Excel Innovation Center - Indian farmers’ indigenous response to climate change and avenues for doubling Indian farmer income - Impact of Climate Change and possible steps for Reversal