By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – UN Food and Agriculture Organization head on Tuesday told the UN biodiversity forum that without the farmers, it is only political policy without implementation”.
Over 150 countries will be meeting from 25 to 27 February to advance biodiversity finance, accountability and the integration of agrifood systems into global conservation strategies.
The agency noted that despite groundbreaking agreements on genetic data and recognize the stewardship role of Indigenous Peoples at the first round of the COP16 conference in Colombia late last year.
The new Conference of the Parties – or COP16.2 aims to close some crucial gaps which are instrumental for implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.
It said that with nature declining at an alarming rate, the challenge now is turning commitments into action.
FAO head Qu Dongyu called for urgent action to transform agrifood systems, stressed that biodiversity must be embedded in food and farming policies.
A key focus is the Agri-NBSAPs Support Initiative, launched at COP16 in Cali, Colombia.
The initiative is designed to help governments integrate agrifood systems into their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, to eliminate any conflicts between agricultural policy and biodiversity goals.
Colombia’s COP16 President, Environment Minister María Susana Muhamad, and Agriculture Minister Martha Carvajalino, underscored the importance of full implementation.
Mr. Dongyu highlighted the deep connections between biodiversity and food security, noting that over half of the Kunming-Montreal Framework’s 23 targets are directly linked to agriculture.
He explained that “biodiversity is also in the soil and in the water” and that it is critical “to look at biodiversity from a holistic, three-dimensional perspective”.
UN chief Antonio Guterres said that despite commitments made at COP15, funding remains short.
He warned in a statement that biodiversity is “on the brink” and urged governments to translate pledges into investment. “Success requires accountability. And action demands finance,” he said.
He added that with only a fraction of the required $200 billion per year mobilized, developing nations are pushing wealthier countries to meet their financial obligations.
The discussions in Rome are focus on accountability frameworks to track spending and ensure resources reach the communities most affected by biodiversity loss.
The negotiators will work to finalize agreements on biodiversity finance, implementation strategies and monitoring frameworks.
Mr. Dongyu closed his statement by calling for an integrated approach across government sectors.
“We need an integrated approach across government sectors, across Ministries, to ensure the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, better environment and a better life leaving no one behind,” he said.
He acknowledged that time running out to meet the 2030 targets, COP16.2 is a key test of global commitment – whether countries will step up or risk falling short on protecting the planet’s ecosystems.
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