AIM for Climate Initiative are investing in and supporting climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation across the globe.
In his opening remarks at the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) Summit, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack stated that AIM for Climate partners are investing in and supporting climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation across the globe.
The AIM for Climate Initiative, launched in collaboration between the UAE and the United States, embodies this important approach, reflecting our commitment to transforming global agricultural systems into more advanced and sustainable systems to confront the scarcity of water and arable land in many countries, and thereby contributing to the eradication of hunger in the world.
Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, the UAE’s Minister of Climate Change and Environment, stated that a key strategic pillar of the UAE’s National Food Security Strategy 2051 is the strengthening of national and global food security through sustainable technology and innovation. The objective of this strategy is to elevate the entire food value chain and to build a sustainable future.
“Under the vision and guidance of its wise leadership, the UAE is committed to building a solid foundation for international cooperation to find solutions to various challenges facing global food and agricultural systems within a larger framework aimed at addressing climate change and mitigating its negative impacts on the future of humanity” said Minister Almheiri.
AIM for Climate Progress
This summit demonstrated AIM’s efforts to address climate change as there is a global appetite to accelerate progress in meeting food and nutrition security challenges. Secretary Vilsack announced new investments, partners, and resources to propel the initiative into COP28, including:
- Increased Investment: Partners have increased investment in climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation to more than $13 billion (over a 2020 baseline), exceeding the challenge by U.S. Special Envoy for Climate John Kerry at COP27 to achieve $10 billion by COP28.
- Innovation Sprints: 21 new innovation sprints totaling an additional $1.8 billion in increased investment in climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation, bringing the total number of innovation sprints to 51 (over $3 billion).
- Partners: New partners including the governments of Argentina, Fiji, Guatemala, India, Panama, Paraguay and Sri Lanka, bringing the total number of government, innovation sprints, and knowledge partners to more than 500.
The summit witnessed the release of the strategic report “USDA Science and Research Strategy, 2023-2026: Cultivating Scientific Innovation”. This Strategy drives USDA’s science priorities for the next three years to establish a scientific framework to transform the U.S. food system and support our nation’s farmers, ranchers, producers, and foresters. The forward-looking Strategy aligns with USDA’s strategic priorities and helps in making significant advances in food, agriculture and natural resource sectors.
The Strategy’s five science and research priorities include: Accelerating Innovative Technologies & Practices, Driving Climate-Smart Solutions, Bolstering Nutrition Security & Health, Cultivating Resilient Ecosystems, and Translating Research into Action.
A cross-cutting strategy like this illustrates how USDA science begins with innovation and moves across key priorities to address challenges and problems in agriculture. This also ensures research translates into real-world solutions.
In addition, International Climate Hub website was launched to build on COP27 as an International Climate Hub. The new portal is expected to enable science-based, climate-informed agricultural decision making by providing information and resources tailored to specific regions and needs, including a focus on the countries and producers most vulnerable to the effects of global climate change.
