FAO at forefront of global efforts to build partnership between agri-food systems and conservation

Rome/Marseille - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is at the forefront of efforts to restore and maintain a positive relationship between agri-food systems and conservation by promoting sustainable practices around the world.

That was the key message of FAO Director-General QU Dongyu in his address to a High-level dialogue at the World Conservation Congress, currently underway in the French city of Marseille.

The September 3-11 congress, which is hosted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), seeks to set priorities and drive conservation and sustainable development action.

Agriculture accounts for nearly 40 percent of the global land surface and around 70 percent of freshwater use, making it heavily dependent on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Agri-food sectors are very vulnerable to the impacts of the climate crisis while at the same time are responsible for about 34% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions ,  making them an essential component in mitigating and adaptating to climate change. According to FAO's Director-General, green and climate resilient agri-food systems can offer key solutions to the biodiversity and environmental crises.

"By scaling up sustainable practices, we can reduce negative impacts on the environment and conserve biodiversity across shared and productive landscapes and seascapes," Qu said today in a video message.