CLIMATE-RESILIENT AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND AGRICULTURE OR “CLIMATE-

SMART” AGRICULTUREInformation package for government authorities

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ABOUT THE INFORMATION PACKAGE

Introduction How to use Content

PART IAGRICULTURE, FOOD SECURITY AND ECOSYSTEMS: CURRENT AND FUTURE CHALLENGES

PART IIADDRESSING CHALLENGES

Remarks and contacts

We hope this information package assists you in the complex but rewarding task of changing the future of your community.

We have presented short concepts on current concerns and possible ways to address them. We have also included just a few examples of the wide range of experience that is available around the world. We hope that the key wording contained in the concepts and examples will assist you in you looking for material that is relevant to you. We also hope it helps you and your community to prepare plans that can be implemented according to your local conditions.

If you have experience, please document it and share it—we need to act now. Only working together can we address global change.

Thank you and best wishes

For more information

Climate-resilient and environmentally sound agriculture project, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China. E-mail: cpesap@caas.ac.cn

Plant Production and Protection division, FAO. E-mail: theodor.friedrich@fao.org

Climate Change programme, FAO. E-mail: climate-change@fao.org

Contact the authors. E-mail: cc-env@live.co.uk

Please note contacts in FAO can change. If so, please visit www.fao.org

Introduction to the information package

The future of humankind and the planet relies on human activities becoming more efficient, the food chain being no exception. This online information package was written with the idea of providing an overview of the challenges that the agriculture sector—and to a certain extent the food production chain—faces to feed the world while becoming more efficient. It also explores ways to address these challenges.

Through simplified concepts and relevant resources and examples, we explore the impacts of global change on agriculture, the impacts of agriculture on ecosystems and possible technical and policy considerations that can help building food security under current and future challenges.

The technical and policy considerations explored are meant to contribute towards climate-resilient and environmentally sound or “climate-smart” agriculture—agriculture that increases productivity; enhances resilience to global change; stops ecosystem services deterioration; and produces economic and social benefits.

The information presented here comes from findings, experience and ideas from all over the world, as we believe there are already elements to catalyse change. We also believe this change has to come largely from local communities, for which reason, wherever possible, we provide examples at local levels.

See how to use the information package.