Biodiversity plays a crucial role in supporting farmers, forest dwellers, and fisherfolk in producing food and sustaining livelihoods. However, climate change poses a significant threat to these essential resources, leading to increased temperatures, rising sea levels, shifting precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events. These changes have severe consequences for human, animal, and plant health, contributing to the emergence of pests and diseases that threaten food security and economic development.
Developing countries, already burdened by numerous challenges, face the most severe consequences of climate change. Urgent interventions are necessary to mitigate these impacts, particularly for women, who make up 60% of the agrifood workforce, as well as other vulnerable groups. One of the most critical measures is the preservation of biodiversity, particularly through the protection of agricultural soils, which are fundamental to food and nutritional security.
Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) is a key adaptation strategy that can enhance resilience in food production systems. CSA promotes sustainable management of croplands, livestock, forests, and fisheries, ensuring productivity while safeguarding environmental resources. This approach aims to transform agrifood systems to become more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable, addressing climate change, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has been at the forefront of promoting CSA. In collaboration with Kenya’s national and county governments, FAO is implementing the BOOST project, funded by the European Union. This initiative encourages crop diversification, conservation tillage, organic fertilizers, drought-resistant crops, and agroforestry. Local communities are empowered through training programs, equipping them with skills in organic fertilizer production, soil testing, and seed selection. The project adopts a trainer-of-trainers approach, ensuring knowledge transfer and widespread adoption of agroecological practices.
Additionally, FAO and the Government of Kenya have signed the Green Climate Fund project, valued at USD 50 million and supported by the Danish government. This initiative aims to train over 143,000 farmers in climate-smart technologies, improve market access and financing, promote sustainable land management across 30,000 hectares, and generate up to 3,000 jobs.
By integrating climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, these initiatives are fostering a transition towards climate-resilient, low-carbon, and sustainable agriculture, setting a precedent for future investments in climate-smart solutions.
