The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development covers 17 goals, the second of which is “zero hunger”, namely: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. (Click here for details) 

Under this major goal, there are eight targets, the fourth of which is "Ensure the establishment of sustainable food production systems and implement disaster-resistant farming methods to increase productivity and yield, help to maintain ecosystems, strengthen the ability to adapt to climate change, extreme weather, drought, floods and other disasters, and gradually improve land and soil quality."

● Current Situation

The food produced all over the world is enough for everyone in the world. However, more than 820 million people have chronic malnutrition, and there are signs that progress towards zero hunger is slow. In fact, in Africa, hunger is increasing in almost all regions, with a total hunger rate close to 20%. Along with these worrying trends, the land supply is decreasing, soil and biodiversity degradation is increasing, severe weather is occurring more and more frequently. The impact of climate change on agriculture makes the situation more complicated.

(Photo source: China Development Gateway)

About the World

Food and Agriculture Organization Actively Works on Climate Change

Climate change threatens our ability to ensure global food security, eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activity and livestock are a significant driver of climate change, trapping heat in the earth’s atmosphere and triggering global warming.

Climate change has both direct and indirect effects on agricultural productivity including changing rainfall patterns, drought, flooding and the geographical redistribution of pests and diseases. The vast amounts of CO₂ absorbed by the oceans causes acidification, influencing the health of our oceans and those whose livelihoods and nutrition depend on them. FAO is supporting countries to both mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change through a wide range of research based and practical programs and projects, as an integral part of the 2030 agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

(Text source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)

About China

Climate change Tortures Agricultural Development

China is one of the countries severely affected by meteorological disasters, with many types, high intensity and high frequency. Every year, the food production caused by meteorological disasters is reduced by more than 50 billion kilograms, of which the drought disaster causes the largest loss, accounting for about 60% of the total loss. From a long-term perspective, the uncertainty of the natural environment caused by climate change has increased significantly, leading to many impacts on the planning and layout of food production, the response to extreme weather and climate events, the use of water resources, the prevention and control of pests, and targeted scientific and technological research and development.

    (Photo source: Science and Technology Network) 

If appropriate measures are not taken, the temperature will continue to rise in the future, and the drought problem in North China, which has been going on for many years, will not show signs of relief in the next 10 years, and the seasonal drought in areas with abundant rainfall in the south will also be increasingly prominent. By the end of the 21st century, it will lead to a reduction in the production of major crops in tropical and temperate regions, while the estimated food demand will increase by more than 10% annually by 2050.

(Text source: huinong.com)

●  Cases

About the World

Agricultural Water Management is Essential

Small-scale irrigation and other forms of agricultural water management are critical in building resilience to increased climate variability.

The West and Central Africa region is endowed with abundant water resources, but unevenly distributed across the region; yet less than three percent of its arable land benefits from some form of water management. Furthermore, the region is becoming highly vulnerable to climate change, and farmers across the region are increasingly dealing with climate variability and weather risks. Dry spells and significant climate events such as devastating droughts and floods are hitting smallholders more frequently, and there is an urgent need to adapt the irrigation techniques.

Smallholder farmers in the region are increasingly using small-scale irrigation to cultivate their land. It enables farmers to achieve more reliable, profitable and sustainable production, increase their resilience and, in some cases, transform their livelihoods. In this light, small-scale irrigation is very promising in West and Central Africa as it can promote rural food security, poverty alleviation and adaptation to climate change.

(Text source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)

About China

Responding to Climate Change with the Power of Science and Technology

The Chinese meteorological and agricultural departments have carried out in-depth meteorological services for agriculture, which provide a powerful guarantee for the continued increase in grain production across the country. Since the 1960s, 653 agricultural meteorological observatories have been constructed nationwide, and digital transmission has been realized. A total of 2,175 automatic soil moisture observatories, 1,895 farmland microclimate observatories, and 70 farmhouse stations have also been built, developed More than 60 new technologies of agricultural meteorology have been developed. The accuracy of forecasting the total grain output at home and abroad is stable at 95% and 90% or above, respectively. The meteorological department is also committed to serving the development of modern agriculture, actively exploring socialized meteorological services for agriculture, smart agrometeorological services, and meteorological services for the entire industrial chain of agricultural production.

(Text source: huinong.com)

●  Background

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Initiated by the United Nations

On January 1, 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 169 targets, of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit — officially came into force. Countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.