Food resilience and equitable climate action are interconnected, both aim for just and regenerative food systems that benefit both people and the planet. This cannot fall off the political agenda as the world approaches COP30.
When it comes to climate action, world leaders must find the political will to commit resources to address it while including the most vulnerable countries and communities, who experience the severe and disparate impacts of climate change, in shaping the solutions. In the same way, everyone should have access to nutritious, affordable, and culturally appropriate food, regardless of their economic status or where they live in the world.
The argument for food resilience (and the inclusivity it encourages) considers the social, economic, and environmental inequalities within our food systems — such as food insecurity, access to nutrition, agricultural practices, poverty, discrimination and the effects of climate change.
Most important of all, however, is that both climate change and the instability of our food systems have hit society’s most vulnerable — the Global South, communities of color, and those with the lowest income. As a result, global leaders’ unwillingness to solve (or at least alleviate) these issues leads to the exacerbation of global poverty through things like high hunger and malnutrition rates, economic instability, and food insecurity-led displacement.
How does climate change impact global food systems?
Increasing temperatures, extreme weather events, and unpredictable climate patterns are disrupting agriculture and driving up food prices, making it difficult for many to access food.
Let’s zoom in on one of the biggest pillars of the global food system: small-holder farmers. These agriculturalists play a crucial role in global food production systems, providing access to nutritious and affordable foods to local communities, increasing employment numbers in rural areas, and boosting local economies. Yet their work faces increasing challenges due to the climate crisis, challenges that they do not have the resources to overcome — namely unpredictable and extreme weather patterns that affect both crops and livestock.
For instance, Cyclone Freddy severely impacted Malawi in 2023, with over 2 million farmers losing their crops and livestock. On top of the displacement, death, and disease it caused, the extreme weather event destroyed and washed away 440,000 acres of land and over 1.4 million livestock perished, seriously impacting farmers’ livelihoods and worsening food insecurity in the country.
At the time, Oxfam’s Southern Africa Director, Amjad Ali, had this to say: “Torrential floods washed away everything, leaving farmers nothing to harvest. Families told us they have nothing to grow ahead of the winter as they lost their seeds, harvest and agricultural tools forcing them to make desperate decisions to survive… This has hugely contributed to food insecurity in the affected areas and the situation will only get worse if people are not assisted to grow food this winter.”
Smallholder farmers often lack the financial resources and savings necessary to recover from such climate shocks. Without financial programs or insurances in place, a failed harvest can leave livelihoods in ruin. Without access to adequate energy, water, or backup food supplies, these challenges can push them deeper into poverty.
And without the work these farmers do, dependency on imported food increases, prices rise further, and food insecurity and global hunger can only increase. In 2017, surveys across African cities found that 70% of households regularly got their food from informal markets — which distribute smallholder produce — an indicator of how intensely local food systems (and local economies) depend on small-scale farmers.
Despite small-holder farmers producing one-third of the world's food supply, they receive just 0.8% of climate finance, each year. This funding gap leaves millions of farmers without the essential resources to withstand climate shocks, and makes it difficult for climate adaptation.
Why does food systems resilience matter in the context of COP30 in Brazil?
The discussion of climate resilient food systems should also include the discussion of climate sensitive food systems. Meaning that we cannot have food systems that deliberately contribute to the worsening of the climate crisis. On this, Brazil is poised as a ripe example.
Brazil's current food system — and its global contribution led by corporations and other international players that seek to exploit the natural environment for profit — plays a significant role in the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest, which in turn accelerates climate change, with cattle ranching, for instance, responsible for 80% of the forest loss. The clearing of the Amazon rainforest for agricultural expansion raises serious questions about the sustainability of these practices.
Brazil is ideally positioned to take a leadership role in these discussions. As a country rich in biodiversity and a powerhouse in the agricultural sector, it has firsthand experience in addressing challenges such as hunger and deforestation while also promoting sustainable farming practices.
Climate adaptation will be a key topic discussed at COP30, it is essential that nutrition and food systems be integrated into this framework. COP30 presents an opportunity to bring together actions on climate, hunger, nutrition, poverty, and biodiversity which are all interconnected.
What will happen if food resilience and global food systems are not a focus at this year’s COP30?
1. More people will face hunger and food insecurity.
In 2024, the Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) indicated that over 295 million individuals in 53 countries and territories experienced high levels of acute food insecurity. A large part of this is due to extreme weather events.
2. Climate-vulnerable countries will struggle to afford the transition to sustainable food systems without support.
Many Global South countries have roadmaps, like CAADP, to address food insecurity but lack access to the financial resources to adapt sustainable agricultural practices. Without international funding support — particularly as these nations tend to be those least responsible for the climate crisis that’s hitting global food systems — countries that are the most affected by climate change will find it challenging to transition to sustainable food systems, which will worsen food insecurity as harvests will be lost or remain unpredictable, and potentially increase the stress on traditional farming practices.
3. Smallholder farmers will be left without support to adapt to climate change.
As we’ve noted, smallholder farmers, who are the backbone of our food systems and stand at the forefront of climate change, face economic barriers and limited support, making it challenging for them to recover from climate-related shocks. Increased climate finance at COP30, specifically directed towards sustainable agricultural practices and investment in climate adaptation for small-holder farmers is necessary. Otherwise, these farmers will continue to be vulnerable to climate-related shocks, making it difficult to maintain their livelihoods and putting them at risk of facing food insecurity. To ensure global food security, climate finance for small-holder farmers must increase urgently to at least $75 billion — nearly 14 times the current level. This increased climate finance will help equip small-holder farmers with the essential resources needed for climate adaptation and building resilient agriculture systems.
4. The climate and food system destruction cycle will only continue.
The profit-driven rapid scaling of our food systems is having an effect on the environment.
Moving towards low-carbon, climate-resilient, and environmentally friendly practices will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase crop yields, and support biodiversity.
To help with this transition, there is a need for an increase in climate finance within this sector. Agriculture and food systems currently receive less than 5% of climate finance. Research by the ClimateShot Investor Coalition shows that we need to invest $1.1 trillion each year until 2030 to achieve sustainable food production that creates jobs and meets Paris Agreement goals.
As COP30 approaches in Belém, Brazil, the urgency for prioritizing food resilience and sustainable food systems is more important than ever. The interconnected crises of climate change and food insecurity threaten livelihoods and global food supply. By increasing climate finance for sustainable agriculture and supporting smallholder farmers, we can address inequalities, enhance food security, and combat climate change. COP30 provides the opportunity to advocate for a food system that serves both people and the planet. The time for action is now, let's make food resilience a cornerstone of our climate response.