To support shifts towards sustainable nature-positive production and efficient value chains for crops, commodities, livestock, and aquaculture
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) lead the Food Systems Integrated Programme of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The programme will direct an estimated $230 million – to be complemented by additional co-financing – in project grants to support countries to transform their agrifood systems to be more sustainable and to deliver global environmental benefits in conserving biodiversity, combatting land degradation, mitigating and adapting to climate change and contributing to national food security.
The Food Systems Integrated Programme is the second largest programme approved in the GEF’s programming directions for 2022 – 2026, known as GEF-8 The programme will aim to catalyse national and global shifts towards sustainable nature-positive production systems by supporting efficient, sustainable and resilient value chains for crops, forest products, commodities, livestock, and aquaculture. FAO and IFAD aim to align the program with the outcomes of the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit and collaborate with partners, such as the United Nations Development Programme, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the Nature Conservancy, and the Regional Development Banks to deliver greater results.
FAO and IFAD are implementing agencies of the GEF, a partnership of 18 agencies and 183 countries which addresses the world’s most challenging environmental issues related to biodiversity, climate change, land degradation, chemicals, and international waters. GEF provides grants to countries to meet these challenges whilst contributing to key development goals, such as food security.
“Transforming the way we produce, distribute and consume food so that our actions are truly inclusive and sustainable requires a paradigm shift. We need to work in partnership, assemble and leverage finance and investments, and strengthen policies, knowledge and capacities,” says IFAD President, Alvaro Lario. “The GEF Integrated Programme on Food Systems will support countries to define their national pathways and prioritise interventions that have proven to deliver measurable benefits for the climate, the environment and the people.”
