Review of Nationally Determined Contributions (NCD) of China from the perspective of food systems

Tek Sapkota (2023, [Documento de trabajo])

China is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHG) and one of the countries most affected by climate change. China's food systems are a major contributor to climate change: in 2018, China's food systems emitted 1.09 billion tons of carbondioxide equivalent (CO2eq) GHGs, accounting for 8.2% of total national GHG emissions and 2% of global emissions. According to the Third National Communication (TNC) Report, in 2010, GHG emissions from energy, industrial processes, agriculture, and waste accounted for 78.6%, 12.3%, 7.9%, and 1.2% of total emissions, respectively, (excluding emissions from land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF). Total GHG emissions from the waste sector in 2010 were 132 Mt CO2 eq, with municipal solid waste landfills accounting for 56 Mt. The average temperature in China has risen by 1.1°C over the last century (1908–2007), while nationally averaged precipitation amounts have increased significantly over the last 50 years. The sea level and sea surface temperature have risen by 90 mm and 0.9°C respectively in the last 30 years. A regional climate model predicted an annual mean temperature increase of 1.3–2.1°C by 2020 (2.3–3.3°C by 2050), while another model predicted a 1–1.6°C temperature increase and a 3.3–3.7 percent increase in precipitation between 2011 and 2020, depending on the emissions scenario. By 2030, sea level rise along coastal areas could be 0.01–0.16 meters, increasing the likelihood of flooding and intensified storm surges and causing the degradation of wetlands, mangroves, and coral reefs. Addressing climate change is a common human cause, and China places a high value on combating climate change. Climate change has been incorporated into national economic and social development plans, with equal emphasis on mitigation and adaptation to climate change, including an updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) in 2021. The following overarching targets are included in China's updated NDC: • Peaking carbon dioxide emissions “before 2030” and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060. • Lowering carbon intensity by “over 65%” by 2030 from the 2005 level. • Increasing forest stock volume by around 6 billion cubic meters in 2030 from the 2005 level. The targets have come from several commitments made at various events, while China has explained very well the process adopted to produce its third national communication report. An examination of China's NDC reveals that it has failed to establish quantifiable and measurable targets in the agricultural sectors. According to the analysis of the breakdown of food systems and their inclusion in the NDC, the majority of food system activities are poorly mentioned. China's interventions or ambitions in this sector have received very little attention. The adaptation component is mentioned in the NDC, but is not found to be sector-specific or comprehensive. A few studies have rated the Chinese NDC as insufficient, one of the reasons being its failure to list the breakdown of each sector's clear pathway to achieving its goals. China's NDC lacks quantified data on food system sub-sectors. Climate Action Trackers' "Insufficient" rating indicates that China's domestic target for 2030 requires significant improvements to be consistent with the Paris Agreement's target of 1.5°C temperature limit. Some efforts are being made: for example, scientists from the Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (IEDA-CAAS) have developed methods for calculating GHG emissions from livestock and poultry farmers that have been published as an industrial standard by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, PRC (Prof Hongmin Dong, personal communication) but this still needs to be consolidated and linked to China’s NDC. The updated Nationally Determined Contributions fall short of quantifiable targets in agriculture and food systems as a whole, necessitating clear pathways. China's NDC is found to be heavily focused on a few sectors, including energy, transportation, and urban-rural development. The agricultural sectors' and food systems' targets are vague, and China's agrifood system has a large carbon footprint. As a result, China should focus on managing the food system (production, processing, transportation, and food waste management) to reduce carbon emissions. Furthermore, China should take additional measures to make its climate actions more comprehensive, quantifiable, and measurable, such as setting ambitious and clear targets for the agriculture sector, including activity-specific GHG-reduction pathways; prioritizing food waste and loss reduction and management; promoting sustainable livestock production and low carbon diets; reducing chemical pollution; minimizing the use of fossil fuel in the agri-system and focusing on developing green jobs, technological advancement and promoting climate-smart agriculture; promoting indigenous practices and locally led adaptation; restoring degraded agricultural soils and enhancing cooperation and private partnership. China should also prepare detailed NDC implementation plans including actions and the GHG reduction from conditional targets.

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS CLIMATE CHANGE FOOD SYSTEMS LAND USE CHANGE AGRICULTURE POLICIES DATA ANALYSIS FOOD WASTES

Agroecology can promote climate change adaptation outcomes without compromising yield in smallholder systems

Sieglinde Snapp Yodit Kebede Eva Wollenberg (2023, [Artículo])

A critical question is whether agroecology can promote climate change mitigation and adaptation outcomes without compromising food security. We assessed the outcomes of smallholder agricultural systems and practices in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) against 35 mitigation, adaptation, and yield indicators by reviewing 50 articles with 77 cases of agroecological treatments relative to a baseline of conventional practices. Crop yields were higher for 63% of cases reporting yields. Crop diversity, income diversity, net income, reduced income variability, nutrient regulation, and reduced pest infestation, indicators of adaptative capacity, were associated with 70% or more of cases. Limited information on climate change mitigation, such as greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration impacts, was available. Overall, the evidence indicates that use of organic nutrient sources, diversifying systems with legumes and integrated pest management lead to climate change adaptation in multiple contexts. Landscape mosaics, biological control (e.g., enhancement of beneficial organisms) and field sanitation measures do not yet have sufficient evidence based on this review. Widespread adoption of agroecological practices and system transformations shows promise to contribute to climate change services and food security in LMICs. Gaps in adaptation and mitigation strategies and areas for policy and research interventions are finally discussed.

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA CLIMATE CHANGE CROPS FOOD SUPPLY GAS EMISSIONS GREENHOUSE GASES FARMING SYSTEMS AGROECOLOGY FOOD SECURITY LESS FAVOURED AREAS SMALLHOLDERS YIELDS NUTRIENTS BIOLOGICAL PEST CONTROL CARBON SEQUESTRATION LEGUMES

The HUB Model: An evolving concept for knowlegde management among and between stakeholders towards integrated agri-food systems

Jelle Van Loon (2022, [Objeto de congreso])

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA INNOVATION SYSTEMS FOOD SYSTEMS AGRIFOOD SYSTEMS DATA PROCESSING

Can I speak to the manager? The gender dynamics of decision-making in Kenyan maize plots

Rachel Voss Zachary Gitonga Jason Donovan Mariana Garcia-Medina Pauline Muindi (2023, [Artículo])

Gender and social inclusion efforts in agricultural development are focused on making uptake of agricultural technologies more equitable. Yet research looking at how gender relations influence technology uptake often assumes that men and women within a household make farm management decisions as individuals. Relatively little is understood about the dynamics of agricultural decision-making within dual-adult households where individuals’ management choices are likely influenced by others in the household. This study used vignettes to examine decision-making related to maize plot management in 698 dual-adult households in rural Kenya. The results indicated a high degree of joint management of maize plots (55%), although some management decisions—notably those related to purchased inputs—were slightly more likely to be controlled by men, while other decisions—including those related to hiring of labor and maize end uses—were more likely to be made by women. The prevalence of joint decision-making underscores the importance of ensuring that both men’s and women’s priorities and needs are reflected in design and marketing of interventions to support maize production, including those related to seed systems, farmer capacity building, and input delivery.

Intrahousehold Jointness CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA GENDER HOUSEHOLDS MAIZE SEED SYSTEMS DECISION MAKING

Editorial: Conservation agriculture: knowledge frontiers around the world

Stéphane Cordeau ML JAT Cameron Pittelkow Christian Thierfelder (2023, [Artículo])

No-Tillage Direct Seeding Cover Crops Crop Diversification CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA COVER PLANTS DIVERSIFICATION CROPPING SYSTEMS DIRECT SOWING ZERO TILLAGE

Transformando sistemas agroalimentarios en CentroSur-Sureste de Mexico: Innovación para sustentabilidad, competitividad y inclusión

Jelle Van Loon (2022, [Objeto de congreso])

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA AGRIFOOD SYSTEMS BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION FOOD SECURITY SUSTAINABLE INTENSIFICATION

Agroecology and systems analysis for sustainable agriculture

Santiago Lopez-Ridaura (2022, [Artículo])

Multi-Criteria Tradeoffs Synergies CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA AGROECOLOGY INDICATORS SUSTAINABILITY FARMING SYSTEMS

Hacia una agricultura sustentable: Impacto de la red de colaboraciones

Jelle Van Loon (2022, [Objeto de congreso])

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA AGRIFOOD SYSTEMS BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION FOOD SECURITY CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE

Seed systems in Sudan: an annotated bibliography

Hugo De Groote Paswel Marenya (2023, [Libro])

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA SEED SYSTEMS SEED INDUSTRY BIBLIOGRAPHIES

¿Desvinculación o decrecimiento? Un marco analítico para abordar la transición socioecológica desde los estudios urbanos

Jerónimo Aurelio Díaz Marielle (2023, [Artículo])

Artículo número 1 de la Sección Articulos de Investigación.

La transición socioecológica se perfila como un nuevo paradigma científico centrado en las interacciones sociedad-naturaleza y es, al mismo tiempo, la punta de lanza de una nueva agenda urbana y ambiental que no está exenta de contradicciones y dilemas. Con un pie en la divulgación de los conceptos y las metodologías que conforman este paradigma, y con otro en el análisis sociológico de los nuevos ecologismos, el artículo ofrece una revisión de dos corrientes de ecología política que buscan orientar el sentido de la transición: la desvinculación ecológica y el decrecimiento. La primera coloca sus expectativas en el desarrollo tecnológico y el mercado, es favorable al modelo de la ciudad compacta y promueve las llamadas soluciones basadas en la naturaleza. La segunda reconoce el valor de los saberes urbanos vernáculos, pero apela a la descentralización de las urbes y pugna por una reducción equitativa y democrática de los estándares de vida de la población. El artículo concluye que los estudios urbanos (en particular la sociología urbana y la planeación territorial) pueden contribuir a comprender el funcionamiento de los metabolismos urbanos y aportar soluciones a las dificultades que impiden el tránsito hacia una sociedad sustentable, esto es, una sociedad que sea capaz de autolimitarse, ajustando su metabolismo a los ciclos y a los tiempos que requiere la naturaleza para regenerarse.

The socio-ecological transition is emerging as a new scientific paradigm focused on the interactions between society and nature, and at the same time, it is the spearhead of a new urban and environmental agenda. With one foot in the dissemination of the concepts and methodologies that make up this paradigm, and with the other in the sociological analysis of the new environmental movements, the article offers a review of two political ecology forces that seek to guide the direction of the transition: ecological decoupling and degrowth. The former places its expectations on technological development and the market, is favorable to the compact city model and promotes so-called nature-based solutions. The latter recognizes the value of vernacular urban knowledge, but calls for the decentralization of cities and advocates for an equitable and democratic reduction of the population standards of living. The article concludes that urban studies (particularly urban sociology and territorial planning) can contribute to understanding the functioning of urban metabolisms and providing ways to address social inertia regarding climate change.

Cambio climático, metabolismo urbano, planeación territorial. Climate change, urban metabolism, territorial planning. HUMANIDADES Y CIENCIAS DE LA CONDUCTA CIENCIAS DE LAS ARTES Y LAS LETRAS ARQUITECTURA URBANISMO