UNEP Agriculture
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agriCulture A Catalyst forTransitioning to a Green Economy A UNEP Brief the green eConomy approaCh Bold leadership and new approaches to business, investment and policy are required to confront these crises. Interventions are needed to mobilize and re-focus the global economy towards investments and expenditures in economic sectors that can catalyze the creation of decent jobs and livelihoods, sustained economic development, poverty reduction, and the regeneration of life-sustaining natural resources. This is the objective of the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) “Green Economy” approach to sustainable development. One sector ripe for “green”investment is agriculture. aChievements of agriCulture During the last few decades, there have been significant achievements in the agricultural sector: • Global crop production has more than doubled over the last 40 years, 9 and the world now produces enough food to feed six billion people, 10 although the distribution of food is uneven. 11 • In 2006, an estimated 1.3 billion workers were engaged in the agriculture sector globally, 36 per cent of the total world population. 12 In many parts of the world, and in most developing countries, agriculture is the largest source of employment and livelihoods, 13 especially in areas where poverty is concentrated. 14 www.unep.org/greeneconomy ConteXt The world seems to be recovering from the most acute phase of the financial crisis, but its social and development impacts are still unfolding. By the end of 2010, 64 million more people worldwide could be living in extreme poverty as a direct result of the financial crisis. 1 Formal unemployment around the world has increased by 34 million since 2007, with most of the increase occurring in 2009. 2 It is estimated that between 30,000 and 50,000 additional children may have died of malnutrition in Africa in 2009 because of the crisis. 3 More than 100 million people needed help from the World Food Programme in 2008, 4 while at the same time, 57% of the potential edible crop harvest was lost during different stages of conversion from crop to food or as food waste. 5 Food losses and food waste affect the supply-demand ratio and contribute to rising food prices, which are expected to remain high, limiting access of the poor to food. 6 After reaching record levels, oil prices fell by over 60 per cent in 2008, but were once again on an upward trajectory in 2009. 7 From an environmental perspective, ecosystems are under severe stress in many areas of the world and the impacts of climate change, exacerbated by increasing populations and consumption levels, are evident. 8 ”The way the world grows its food will have to change radically to better serve the poor and hungry if the world is to cope with a growing population and climate change while avoiding social breakdown and environmental collapse.“ The International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development, 2009. ii Available for household Meat and dairy After harvest Edible crop harvest Kcal A gross estimate of global food losses Source: Nellemann et al., 2009. i www.unep.org/greeneconomy 1 World Bank, 2009, ‘Global Economic Prospects 2010: Crisis, Finance and Growth,’ World Bank, Available at http://go.worldbank.org/OE8NEB3JP0 2 International Labor Organisation (ILO), 2010, ‘Global Employment Trends: January 2010,’ ILO, Available at http://www.ilo.org/empelm/what/pubs/lang--en/docName--WCMS_120471/index.htm 3 World Bank, 2009, ‘Global Economic Prospects 2010: Crisis, Finance and Growth,’ World Bank, Available at http://go.worldbank.org/OE8NEB3JP0; 4 World Food Programme (WFP), 2009, ‘WFP Annual Report: 2009,’ WFP, Available at http://www.wfp.org/ content/annual-report-2009 5 Lundqvist et al., 2008,‘Saving Water: From Field to Fork – Curbing Losses and Wastage in the Food Chain,’ SIWI Policy Brief, SIWI, Available at: http://www.siwi.org/documents/Resources/Policy_Briefs/PB_ From_Filed_to_fork_2008.pdf 6 Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development-Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (OECD-FAO), 2008, ‘OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2008-2017,’ OECD/FAO, Available at http://www.agri-outlook.org/dataoecd/54/15/40715381.pdf; and Nellemann, C. et al., (eds.), February 2009, ‘The environmental food crisis – The environment’s role in averting future food crises,’ United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), GRID-Arendal, Available at http://www.grida.no/_res/site/ file/publications/FoodCrisis_lores.pdf. 7 Energy Investigation Agency – US Department of Energy (EIA), 2008, ‘Key World Energy Statistics 2008,’EIA, Available at http://www.iea.org/textbase/nppdf/free/2008/key_stats_2008.pdf ; and EIA, 2010, ‘World Crude Oil Prices,’Available at http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_wco_k_w.htm 8 Nellemann, C. et al., (eds.), February 2009, ‘The environmental food crisis – The environment’s role in averting future food crises,’ UNEP, GRID-Arendal, Available at http://www.grida.no/_res/site/file/ publications/FoodCrisis_lores.pdf. ; and, International Scientific Congress on Climate Change, 12 March 2009, ‘Key Messages from the Congress,’ University of Copenhagen, Available at http://climatecongress.ku.dk/ newsroom/congress_key_messages/ 9 Foley, J.A., et al., 2007,‘Our share of the planetary pie,’Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA vol. 104, no. 31, p. 12585–12586. 10 Tilman, D. et al., 8 August 2002,‘Agricultural sustainability and intensive production practices,’ Nature vol. 418. 11 Shapouri, S. and S. Rosen, 1999, ‘Food Security Assessment: Why Countries Are at Risk,’ Agriculture Information Bulletin no. AIB754, September 1999, Available at http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/AIB754/ 12 Worldwatch Institute, September 2008,‘Green jobs: Towards decent work in a sustainable, low-carbon world,’ UNEP, p. 228, Available at http://www.ilo.org/global/What_we_do/Publications/Newreleases/lang--en/ docName--WCMS_098503/index.htm 13 Ibid. 14 World Bank, October 2007, ‘World Development Report 2008: Agriculture for Development,’World Bank, Available at http://go.worldbank.org/LBJZD6HWZ0 15 Ibid.; and Broca, S.S.,‘Food and agriculture in the Asia-Pacific region: past performance and future prospects,’ FOA, Available at ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/012/i1032e/i1032e01.pdf 16 Ibid. 17 FAO, 2007, ‘Paying farmers for biodiversity conservation services,’ Available at ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/ fao/010/i0112e/i0112e05.pdf 18 FAO, 4 February 2009,‘Farming must change to feed the world - FAO expert urges more sustainable approach,’ Available at http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/9962/icode/ 19 OECD, 2009 ‘Agricultural Policies in OECD Countries: Monitoring and Evaluation,’ OECD, Available at http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/37/16/43239979.pdf 20 Krebs, J.R. et al., 12 August 1999,‘The second Silent Spring?: The drive to squeeze ever more food from the land has sent Europe’s farmland wildlife into a precipitous decline,’ Nature vol. 400, p. 611-612; and Green, R.E. et al., 2005,‘Establishing Indicators for Biodiversity,’ Science vol. 308. 21 Nellemann, C. et al., (eds.), February 2009,‘The environmental food crisis – The environment’s role in averting future food crises,’ UNEP, GRID-Arendal, Available at http://www.ilo.org/global/What_we_do/Publications/ Newreleases/lang--en/docName--WCMS_098503/index.htm 22 Ibid. 23 UNEP, 2006, ‘Challenges to International Waters; Regional Assessments in a Global Perspective,’ Earth Print, p. 10, Available at http://www.unep.org/dewa/giwa/publications/finalreport/ 24 Ho, Mae-Wan, 2010, ‘China’s Pollution Census Triggers Green Five-Year Plan,’ Institute of Science in Society (ISIS) Report, 24 March 2010, Available at http://www.i-sis.org.uk/full/chinasPollutionFull.php 25 World Resources Institute (WRI), 2006,‘Climate Analysis Indicators Tool (CAIT) on-line database version 3.0,’ WRI, Available at http://cait.wri.org 26 International Emissions Trading Association, Available at http://www.ieta.org/ieta/www/pages/index. php?IdSitePage=123 27 International Labour Organization (ILO), 2000, ‘Safety and Health in Agriculture,’ ILO, Available at http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/relm/ilc/ilc88/rep-vi-1.htm 28 FAO and ILO, 2009,‘Safety and Health,’FAO and ILO, Available at http://www.fao-ilo.org/fao-ilo-safety/en/ ; Calvert, et al., 2004,‘Acute occupational pesticide-related illness in the US, 1998-1999: surveillance findings from the SENSOR-pesticides program,’ American Journal of Industrial Medicine vol. 45, p. 14-23; Henao S. and M.P. Arbelaez, 2002,‘Epidemiological situation of acute pesticide poisoning in the Central American Isthmus, 1992-2000,’Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Epidemiology Bulletin vol. 23, p. 5-9; and Geneva International Programme on Chemical Safety/World Health Organization (WHO), 2004, ‘Epidemiology of pesticide poisoning: harmonized collection of data on human pesticide exposure in selected countries,’ Geneva International Programme on Chemical Safety/WHO. 29 Scialabba, E-H.N., 3-5 May 2007, ‘Organic agriculture and food security,’ International Conference on Organic Agriculture and Food Security, FAO, p. 13, Available at ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/meeting/012/ah952e.pdf 30 Nellemann, C. et al., (eds.), February 2009,‘The environmental food crisis – The environment’s role in averting future food crises,’ UNEP, GRID-Arendal, Available at http://www.ilo.org/global/What_we_do/Publications/ Newreleases/lang--en/docName--WCMS_098503/index.htm 31 Among other principles, sustainable agriculture emphasizes sustainable resource management – using resources more efficiently and productively, e.g. low or no tillage, crop rotation, bio-based fertilisers, native crops,‘more crop per drop’efficient irrigation systems and post-harvest crop management to reduce losses. 32 Organic Monitor, ‘Organic Monitor Gives 2009 Predictions,’ Organic Monitor, Available at http://www. organicmonitor.com/r3001.htm 33 Export Promotion of Organic Products from Africa (EPOPA), 2007, EPOPA newsletter, no. 5, May 2007. 34 Sahota, A., 2009,‘The Global Market for Organic Food & Drink,’in H. Willer and L. Kilcher, (eds.), 2009, The World of Organic Agriculture: Statistics and Emerging Trends 2009, FIBL-IFOAM Report, Bonn: IFOAM; Frick: FiBL; Geneva: ITC. 35 Willer, H., M. Rohwedder and E. Wynen, 2009,‘Organic Agriculture Worldwide: Current Statistics,’in H. Willer and L. Kilcher, (eds.), 2009, The World of Organic Agriculture: Statistics and Emerging Trends 2009, FIBL-IFOAM Report, Bonn: IFOAM; Frick: FiBL; Geneva: ITC.; and Sahota, A., 2009,‘The Global Market for Organic Food & Drink,’in H. Willer and L. Kilcher, (eds.), 2009, The World of Organic Agriculture: Statistics and Emerging Trends 2009, FIBL-IFOAM Report, Bonn: IFOAM; Frick: FiBL; Geneva: ITC. 36 Analysis done by UNEP-ETB based on data from Sahota, A., 2009,‘The Global Market for Organic Food & Drink,’ in H. Willer and L. Kilcher, (eds.), 2009, The World of Organic Agriculture: Statistics and Emerging Trends 2009, FIBL-IFOAM Report, Bonn: IFOAM; Frick: FiBL; Geneva: ITC. 37 Padel, S. and N. Lampkin, 1994, ‘Conversion to organic farming: an overview,’ in N. Lampkin (ed.), The economics of organic farming - an international perspective, Wallingford: CAB International, p. 295-311; and Hird, V., 1997, Double Yield - jobs and sustainable food production, London: SAFE Alliance. 38 Nemes, N., 2009,‘Comparative Analysis of Organic and Non-Organic Farming Systems: A Critical Assessment of Farm Profitability,’FAO, p. 3, Available at ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/ak355e/ak355e00.pdf 39 Mäder, P. et al., May 2002, ‘Soil Fertility and Biodiversity in Organic Farming,’ Science vol. 296, no. 5573, p. 1694 – 1697. 40 Posner L. J. et al., 26 February 2008,‘Organic and conventional production systems in the Wisconsin integrated cropping systems trials: I. Productivity 1990–2002,’ Agronomy Journal vol. 100, p. 253-260; Horrigan, L. et al., May 2002,‘How sustainable agriculture can address the environmental and human health harms of industrial agriculture,’ Environmental Health Perspectives vol. 110. ; and Badgley C. et al., 2007,‘Organic agriculture and the global food supply,’ Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems vol. 22, p. 86-108. 41 Mäder, P., A. Fliessbach, D. Dubois, L. Gunst, F. Padruot and U. Niggli, 2002,‘Soil fertility and biodiversity in organic farming,’ Science vol. 296, p. 1694 – 1697. 42 Zarea, A., A. Koocheki and M. Nassiri, 2000, ‘Energy Efficiency of Conventional and Ecological Cropping Systems in Different Rotations with Wheat,’in T. Alföldi, W. Lockeretz and U. Niggli (eds.), 2000, IFOAM 2000 – The world grows organic, Proceedings at the 13 th IFOAM Scientific Conference, 28 August 2000. 43 Küstermann, B. and K.-J. Hülsbergen, 2008,‘Emission of Climate-Relevant Gases in Organic and Conventional Cropping Systems,’ 16th IFOAM OrganicWorld Congress, Modena, Italy, 16-20 June 2008, Available at http:// orgprints.org/12813/1/12813.pdf 44 Ibid. 45 Hole D.G. et al., March 2005, ‘Does organic farming benefit biodiversity?’ Biological Conservation vol. 122, is. 1, p. 113-130; Bengtsson, J., J. Ahnström and A.-C. Weibull, 2005, ‘The effects of organic agriculture on biodiversity and abundance: a meta-analysis,’ Journal of Applied Ecology vol. 42, p. 261-269; and Mäder, Paul, A. Fliessbach, D. Dubois, L. Gunst, P. Fried and U. Niggli, 2002,‘Soil Fertility and Biodiversity in Organic Farming,’ Science vol. 296, p. 1694-1697. 46 UNEP-UNCTAD Capacity Building Task Force on Trade, Environment and Development (CBTF), 2008, ‘Organic Agriculture and Food Security in Africa,’ UNCTAD, Available at http://www.unep-unctad.org/cbtf/ publications/UNCTAD_DITC_TED_2007_15.pdf 47 Scialabba, N. E.-H., 2007,‘Organic Agriculture and Food Security,’FAO, p. 8., Available at ftp://ftp.fao.org/paia/ organicag/ofs/OFS-2007-5.pdf 48 Cruz, M. A. G., R. S. Rindermann, L. G. Tomar, J. O. Rufino and E. Nelson, 2009,‘Mexico,’in H. Willer and L. Kilcher, (eds.), 2009, The World of Organic Farming: Statistics and Emerging Trends 2009, Frick: FiBL, Bonn: IFOAM, Geneva: ITC. 49 Worldwatch Institute, September 2008, ‘Green jobs: Towards decent work in a sustainable, low-carbon world,’ UNEP, Available at http://www.ilo.org/global/What_we_do/Publications/Newreleases/lang--en/ docName--WCMS_098503/index.htm 50 Feeding the 5000, 2009,‘Food Waste Facts’Available at http://www.feeding5k.org/food-waste-facts.php i Nellemann, C. et al., (eds.), February 2009, ‘The environmental food crisis – The environment’s role in averting future food crises,’ United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), GRID-Arendal, Available at http://www.grida.no/_res/site/file/publications/FoodCrisis_lores.pdf. ii International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD), 2009, ‘Global Report,’IAASTD, Beverly D. McIntyre, Hans R. Herren, Judi Wakhungu and Robert T. Watson (eds.), Available at http://www.agassessment.org/reports/IAASTD/EN/Agriculture%20at%20a%20Crossroads_ Global%20Report%20(English).pdf iii UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP), 2009, ‘Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security in Asia and the Pacific,’ESCAP, p. 15, Available at http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/pdfid/49f589db2.pdf iv Baumert, K., T. Herzog and J. Pershing, 2005,‘Navigating the Numbers: Greenhouse Gas Data and International Climate Policy,’World Resources Institute, Available at http://pdf.wri.org/navigating_numbers.pdf v Vasilikiotis, Christos, 2000, ‘Can Organic Farming ‘Feed the World’?’University of California, Berkeley, p. 6, Available at: http://nature.berkeley.edu/~christos/espm118/articles/organic_feed_world.pdf vi Sahota, A., 2009, ‘The Global Market for Organic Food & Drink,’in H. Willer and L. Kilcher, (eds.), 2009, The World of Organic Agriculture: Statistics and Emerging Trends 2009, FIBL-IFOAM Report, Bonn: IFOAM; Frick: FiBL; Geneva: ITC. For comments, feedback and more details: Asad Naqvi UNEP-Economics and Trade Branch - [email protected] We would like to acknowledge the inputs and contributions provided by CBD, FAO, ILO, ITC, UNCTAD, UN DESA, andWHO for this Brief UNEP promotes environ- mentally sound practices globally and in its own activities. This publication is printed on 100% recycled paper, using vegetable -based inks and other eco-friendly practices. Our distribution policy aims to reduce UNEP’s carbon footprint.
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Transcript of UNEP Agriculture
agriCultureACatalystforTransitioningtoaGreenEconomy
AUNEPBrief
the green eConomy approaChBold leadership and new approaches to business, investment and policy arerequiredtoconfrontthesecrises.Interventionsareneededtomobilizeandre-focus
theglobaleconomytowards investmentsandexpenditures ineconomicsectorsthatcancatalyzethecreationofdecentjobsandlivelihoods,sustainedeconomicdevelopment,povertyreduction,andtheregenerationoflife-sustainingnaturalresources.This is theobjective of the UnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme’s(UNEP)“GreenEconomy”approachtosustainabledevelopment.Onesector ripefor“green”investmentisagriculture.
aChievements of agriCultureDuring the last few decades, there have been significant achievements in theagriculturalsector:
• Globalcropproductionhasmorethandoubledoverthe last40years,9andtheworld now produces enough food to feed six billion people,10 although thedistributionoffoodisuneven.11
• In 2006, an estimated 1.3 billion workers were engaged in the agriculturesector globally, 36 per cent of the total world population.12 In many partsof the world, and in most developing countries, agriculture is the largestsourceofemploymentandlivelihoods,13especiallyinareaswherepovertyisconcentrated.14
www.unep.org/greeneconomy
ConteXtThe world seems to be recovering from the most acute phase of the nancial crisis, but its social and development impacts are still unfolding. By the end of 2010, 64 million more people worldwide could be living in extreme poverty as a direct result of the nancial crisis.1 Formal unemployment around the world has increased by 34 million since 2007, with most of the increase occurring in 2009.2 It is estimated that between 30,000 and 50,000 additional children may have died of malnutrition in Africa in 2009 because of the crisis.3 More than 100 million people needed help from the World Food Programme in 2008,4 while at the same time, 57% of the potential edible crop harvest was lost during di� erent stages of conversion from crop to food or as food waste.5 Food losses and food waste a� ect the supply-demand ratio and contribute to rising food prices, which are expected to remain high, limiting access of the poor to food.6 After reaching record levels, oil prices fell by over 60 per cent in 2008, but were once again on an upward trajectory in 2009.7 From an environmental perspective, ecosystems are under severe stress in many areas of the world and the impacts of climate change, exacerbated by increasing populations and consumption levels, are evident.8
”The way the world grows its food will have to change radically to better serve the poor and hungry if the world is to cope with a growing population and climate change while avoiding social breakdown and environmental collapse.“
The International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge,Science and Technology for Development,2009.ii
Available for household
Meat and dairy
After harvest
Edible crop harvest
Kcal
A gross estimate of global food losses
Source: Nellemann et al., 2009.i
www.unep.org/greeneconomy
1 WorldBank,2009,‘GlobalEconomicProspects2010:Crisis,FinanceandGrowth,’ WorldBank,Availableathttp://go.worldbank.org/OE8NEB3JP0
2 International Labor Organisation (ILO), 2010,‘Global EmploymentTrends: January 2010,’ ILO, Available athttp://www.ilo.org/empelm/what/pubs/lang--en/docName--WCMS_120471/index.htm
3 WorldBank,2009,‘GlobalEconomicProspects2010:Crisis,FinanceandGrowth,’WorldBank,Availableathttp://go.worldbank.org/OE8NEB3JP0;
4 WorldFoodProgramme(WFP),2009,‘WFP AnnualReport:2009,’WFP,Availableathttp://www.wfp.org/content/annual-report-2009
5 Lundqvistetal.,2008,‘SavingWater:FromFieldtoFork–CurbingLossesandWastageintheFoodChain,’SIWI Policy Brief,SIWI,Availableat:
http://www.siwi.org/documents/Resources/Policy_Briefs/PB_From_Filed_to_fork_2008.pdf6 Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development-Food and Agriculture Organisation of the
United Nations (OECD-FAO), 2008, ‘OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2008-2017,’ OECD/FAO, Available athttp://www.agri-outlook.org/dataoecd/54/15/40715381.pdf;andNellemann,C.etal., (eds.),February2009, ‘The environmental food crisis – The environment’s role in averting future food crises,’ UnitedNations Environment Programme (UNEP), GRID-Arendal, Available at http://www.grida.no/_res/site/file/publications/FoodCrisis_lores.pdf.
7 EnergyInvestigationAgency–USDepartmentofEnergy(EIA),2008,‘KeyWorldEnergyStatistics2008,’EIA,Availableathttp://www.iea.org/textbase/nppdf/free/2008/key_stats_2008.pdf;andEIA,2010,‘WorldCrudeOilPrices,’Availableathttp://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_wco_k_w.htm
8 Nellemann, C. et al., (eds.), February 2009, ‘The environmental food crisis – The environment’s rolein averting future food crises,’ UNEP, GRID-Arendal, Available at http://www.grida.no/_res/site/file/publications/FoodCrisis_lores.pdf.;and,InternationalScientificCongressonClimateChange,12March2009,‘Key Messages from the Congress,’ University of Copenhagen, Available at http://climatecongress.ku.dk/newsroom/congress_key_messages/
9 Foley,J.A.,etal.,2007,‘Ourshareoftheplanetarypie,’ProceedingsoftheNational Academy of Sciences USAvol.104,no.31,p.12585–12586.
10 Tilman,D.etal.,8August2002,‘Agriculturalsustainabilityandintensiveproductionpractices,’Naturevol.418.11 Shapouri, S. and S. Rosen, 1999, ‘Food Security Assessment: Why Countries Are at Risk,’ Agriculture
Information Bulletinno.AIB754,September1999,Availableathttp://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/AIB754/12 WorldwatchInstitute,September2008,‘Greenjobs:Towardsdecentworkinasustainable,low-carbonworld,’
UNEP, p. 228, Available at http://www.ilo.org/global/What_we_do/Publications/Newreleases/lang--en/docName--WCMS_098503/index.htm
13 Ibid.14 World Bank, October 2007,‘World Development Report 2008: Agriculture for Development,’World Bank,
Availableathttp://go.worldbank.org/LBJZD6HWZ015 Ibid.;andBroca,S.S.,‘FoodandagricultureintheAsia-Pacificregion:pastperformanceandfutureprospects,’
FOA,Availableatftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/012/i1032e/i1032e01.pdf16 Ibid.17 FAO, 2007, ‘Paying farmers for biodiversity conservation services,’ Available at ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/
fao/010/i0112e/i0112e05.pdf18 FAO,4February2009,‘Farmingmustchangetofeedtheworld-FAOexperturgesmoresustainableapproach,’
Availableathttp://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/9962/icode/19 OECD, 2009 ‘Agricultural Policies in OECD Countries: Monitoring and Evaluation,’ OECD, Available at
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/37/16/43239979.pdf20 Krebs,J.R.etal.,12August1999,‘ThesecondSilentSpring?:Thedrivetosqueezeevermorefoodfromthe
landhassentEurope’sfarmlandwildlifeintoaprecipitousdecline,’Naturevol.400,p.611-612;andGreen,R.E.etal.,2005,‘EstablishingIndicatorsforBiodiversity,’Sciencevol.308.
21 Nellemann,C.etal.,(eds.),February2009,‘Theenvironmentalfoodcrisis–Theenvironment’sroleinavertingfuturefoodcrises,’UNEP,GRID-Arendal,Availableathttp://www.ilo.org/global/What_we_do/Publications/Newreleases/lang--en/docName--WCMS_098503/index.htm
22 Ibid.23 UNEP, 2006, ‘Challenges to International Waters; Regional Assessments in a Global Perspective,’ Earth
Print,p.10,Availableathttp://www.unep.org/dewa/giwa/publications/finalreport/24 Ho,Mae-Wan,2010,‘China’sPollutionCensusTriggersGreenFive-YearPlan,’ InstituteofScience inSociety
(ISIS)Report,24March2010,Availableathttp://www.i-sis.org.uk/full/chinasPollutionFull.php25 WorldResourcesInstitute(WRI),2006,‘ClimateAnalysisIndicatorsTool(CAIT)on-linedatabaseversion3.0,’
WRI,Availableathttp://cait.wri.org26 International Emissions Trading Association, Available at http://www.ieta.org/ieta/www/pages/index.
php?IdSitePage=12327 International Labour Organization (ILO), 2000, ‘Safety and Health in Agriculture,’ ILO, Available at
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/relm/ilc/ilc88/rep-vi-1.htm28 FAOandILO,2009,‘SafetyandHealth,’FAOandILO,Availableathttp://www.fao-ilo.org/fao-ilo-safety/en/;
Calvert,etal.,2004,‘Acuteoccupationalpesticide-relatedillnessintheUS,1998-1999:surveillancefindingsfromtheSENSOR-pesticidesprogram,’American Journal of Industrial Medicinevol.45,p.14-23;HenaoS.andM.P.Arbelaez,2002,‘EpidemiologicalsituationofacutepesticidepoisoningintheCentralAmericanIsthmus,1992-2000,’ Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Epidemiology Bulletin vol. 23, p. 5-9; and GenevaInternational Programme on Chemical Safety/World Health Organization (WHO), 2004, ‘Epidemiologyof pesticide poisoning: harmonized collection of data on human pesticide exposure in selected countries,’GenevaInternationalProgrammeonChemicalSafety/WHO.
29Scialabba,E-H.N.,3-5May2007,‘Organicagricultureandfoodsecurity,’ InternationalConferenceonOrganicAgricultureandFoodSecurity,FAO,p.13,Availableatftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/meeting/012/ah952e.pdf
30 Nellemann,C.etal.,(eds.),February2009,‘Theenvironmentalfoodcrisis–Theenvironment’sroleinavertingfuturefoodcrises,’UNEP,GRID-Arendal,Availableathttp://www.ilo.org/global/What_we_do/Publications/Newreleases/lang--en/docName--WCMS_098503/index.htm
31 Among other principles, sustainable agriculture emphasizes sustainable resource management – usingresourcesmoreefficientlyandproductively,e.g.lowornotillage,croprotation,bio-basedfertilisers,nativecrops,‘morecropperdrop’efficientirrigationsystemsandpost-harvestcropmanagementtoreducelosses.
32 Organic Monitor, ‘Organic Monitor Gives 2009 Predictions,’ Organic Monitor, Available at http://www.organicmonitor.com/r3001.htm
33 ExportPromotionofOrganicProductsfromAfrica(EPOPA),2007,EPOPA newsletter,no.5,May2007.34 Sahota,A.,2009,‘TheGlobalMarketforOrganicFood&Drink,’inH.WillerandL.Kilcher,(eds.),2009,The World of
Organic Agriculture: Statistics and Emerging Trends 2009,FIBL-IFOAMReport,Bonn:IFOAM;Frick:FiBL;Geneva:ITC.35 Willer,H.,M.RohwedderandE.Wynen,2009,‘OrganicAgricultureWorldwide:CurrentStatistics,’inH.Willer
andL.Kilcher,(eds.),2009,The World of Organic Agriculture: Statistics and Emerging Trends 2009,FIBL-IFOAMReport,Bonn:IFOAM;Frick:FiBL;Geneva:ITC.;andSahota,A.,2009,‘TheGlobalMarketforOrganicFood&Drink,’inH.WillerandL.Kilcher,(eds.),2009,The World of Organic Agriculture: Statistics and Emerging Trends 2009,FIBL-IFOAMReport,Bonn:IFOAM;Frick:FiBL;Geneva:ITC.
36 AnalysisdonebyUNEP-ETBbasedondatafromSahota,A.,2009,‘TheGlobalMarketforOrganicFood&Drink,’inH.WillerandL.Kilcher,(eds.),2009, The World of Organic Agriculture: Statistics and Emerging Trends 2009,FIBL-IFOAMReport,Bonn:IFOAM;Frick:FiBL;Geneva:ITC.
37 Padel, S. and N. Lampkin, 1994, ‘Conversion to organic farming: an overview,’ in N. Lampkin (ed.), Theeconomics of organic farming - an international perspective,Wallingford:CABInternational,p.295-311;andHird,V.,1997,Double Yield - jobs and sustainable food production,London:SAFEAlliance.
38 Nemes,N.,2009,‘ComparativeAnalysisofOrganicandNon-OrganicFarmingSystems:ACriticalAssessmentofFarmProfitability,’FAO,p.3,Availableatftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/ak355e/ak355e00.pdf
39 Mäder,P.etal.,May2002,‘SoilFertilityandBiodiversityinOrganicFarming,’Sciencevol.296,no.5573,p.1694–1697.
40 PosnerL.J.etal.,26February2008,‘OrganicandconventionalproductionsystemsintheWisconsinintegratedcroppingsystemstrials:I.Productivity1990–2002,’Agronomy Journalvol.100,p.253-260;Horrigan,L.etal.,May2002,‘Howsustainableagriculturecanaddresstheenvironmentalandhumanhealthharmsofindustrialagriculture,’Environmental Health Perspectivesvol.110.;andBadgleyC.etal.,2007,‘Organicagricultureandtheglobalfoodsupply,’Renewable Agriculture and Food Systemsvol.22,p.86-108.
41 Mäder,P.,A.Fliessbach,D.Dubois,L.Gunst,F.PadruotandU.Niggli,2002,‘Soilfertilityandbiodiversityinorganicfarming,’Sciencevol.296,p.1694–1697.
42 Zarea, A., A. Koocheki and M. Nassiri, 2000, ‘Energy Efficiency of Conventional and Ecological CroppingSystemsinDifferentRotationswithWheat,’inT.Alföldi,W.LockeretzandU.Niggli(eds.),2000,IFOAM 2000 – The world grows organic,Proceedingsatthe13thIFOAMScientificConference,28August2000.
43 Küstermann,B.andK.-J.Hülsbergen,2008,‘EmissionofClimate-RelevantGasesinOrganicandConventionalCroppingSystems,’16thIFOAMOrganicWorldCongress,Modena,Italy,16-20June2008,Availableathttp://orgprints.org/12813/1/12813.pdf
44 Ibid.45 Hole D.G. et al., March 2005,‘Does organic farming benefit biodiversity?’ Biological Conservation vol. 122,
is.1,p.113-130;Bengtsson,J.,J.AhnströmandA.-C.Weibull,2005,‘Theeffectsoforganicagricultureonbiodiversity and abundance: a meta-analysis,’ Journal of Applied Ecology vol. 42, p. 261-269; and Mäder,Paul,A.Fliessbach,D.Dubois,L.Gunst,P.FriedandU.Niggli,2002,‘SoilFertilityandBiodiversityinOrganicFarming,’Sciencevol.296,p.1694-1697.
46 UNEP-UNCTAD Capacity Building Task Force on Trade, Environment and Development (CBTF), 2008,‘Organic Agriculture and Food Security in Africa,’ UNCTAD, Available at http://www.unep-unctad.org/cbtf/publications/UNCTAD_DITC_TED_2007_15.pdf
47 Scialabba,N.E.-H.,2007,‘OrganicAgricultureandFoodSecurity,’FAO,p.8.,Availableatftp://ftp.fao.org/paia/organicag/ofs/OFS-2007-5.pdf
48 Cruz,M.A.G.,R.S.Rindermann,L.G.Tomar,J.O.RufinoandE.Nelson,2009,‘Mexico,’inH.WillerandL.Kilcher,(eds.),2009,TheWorldofOrganicFarming:StatisticsandEmergingTrends2009,Frick:FiBL,Bonn:IFOAM,Geneva:ITC.
49 Worldwatch Institute, September 2008,‘Green jobs:Towards decent work in a sustainable, low-carbonworld,’UNEP,Availableathttp://www.ilo.org/global/What_we_do/Publications/Newreleases/lang--en/docName--WCMS_098503/index.htm
50 Feedingthe5000,2009,‘FoodWasteFacts’Availableathttp://www.feeding5k.org/food-waste-facts.phpi Nellemann, C. et al., (eds.), February 2009,‘The environmental food crisis –The environment’s role in
avertingfuturefoodcrises,’UnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme(UNEP),GRID-Arendal,Availableathttp://www.grida.no/_res/site/file/publications/FoodCrisis_lores.pdf.
ii International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD),2009,‘Global Report,’ IAASTD, Beverly D. McIntyre, Hans R. Herren, JudiWakhungu and RobertT.Watson(eds.),Availableathttp://www.agassessment.org/reports/IAASTD/EN/Agriculture%20at%20a%20Crossroads_Global%20Report%20(English).pdf
iii UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP), 2009, ‘Sustainable Agriculture and FoodSecurityinAsiaandthePacific,’ESCAP,p.15,Availableathttp://www.unhcr.org/refworld/pdfid/49f589db2.pdf
iv Baumert,K.,T.HerzogandJ.Pershing,2005,‘NavigatingtheNumbers:GreenhouseGasDataandInternationalClimatePolicy,’WorldResourcesInstitute,Availableathttp://pdf.wri.org/navigating_numbers.pdf
v Vasilikiotis, Christos, 2000,‘Can Organic Farming‘Feed theWorld’?’ University of California, Berkeley, p. 6,Availableat:http://nature.berkeley.edu/~christos/espm118/articles/organic_feed_world.pdf
vi Sahota,A.,2009,‘TheGlobalMarketforOrganicFood&Drink,’inH.WillerandL.Kilcher,(eds.),2009,TheWorldofOrganicAgriculture:StatisticsandEmergingTrends2009,FIBL-IFOAMReport,Bonn:IFOAM;Frick:FiBL;Geneva:ITC.
Forcomments,feedbackandmoredetails:
Asad Naqvi UNEP-Economics and Trade Branch - [email protected]
WewouldliketoacknowledgetheinputsandcontributionsprovidedbyCBD,FAO,ILO,ITC,UNCTAD,UNDESA,andWHOforthisBriefUNEP
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globallyandinitsownactivities.Thispublicationisprintedon100%
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www.unep.org/greeneconomy
• Agriculture is the largest contributor to gross domestic product (GDP)inmanydevelopingcountries. Insub-SaharanAfricaandSouthAsia, itcontributesanaverageof34percentand20percent,respectively,toGDP.15
• Increased prosperity brought about by advances in agriculturehasreducedpoverty.16
• Many farmers have made significant contributions to theconservation of biodiversity and have been at the forefront indevelopingmoresustainableapproachestofarming.17
Theseachievementsnotwithstanding,theagriculturalsectortodayisatacrossroads.
Challenges for agriCultureAgriculturefaces,andcontributesto,severalchallengesthatinvolveenormouseconomic,socialandenvironmentalcosts:• Globally,thegrowthrateofagriculturalproductivityisdeclining,
andinmanycountriesproductivityisactuallyfalling.18
• Agricultural production is dependent on subsidies, particularlyin developed economies. In 2008, agricultural subsidies inOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD)countriesamountedtoUS$265billion.19
• The impacts of unsustainable agro-chemical use are increasinglyevident.Agricultureisnowamajorcauseofbiodiversityloss.20Landscarcityandlanddegradationassociatedwithagriculturearerising.21Increasederosionandthelossofkeyecosystemservicescanalsobelinkedtochemical-basedagriculturalpractices.22
• Agricultureaccountsfor70percentofglobalfreshwateruseandisalsoresponsibleformostsurfacewaterpollution.23Areportrecentlyreleased by the Chinese government reveals that agriculture is alargersourceofpollutionthanindustryinChina.24
• About13-15percentofglobalgreenhousegasemissionscomefrom agriculture, mainly due to its heavy reliance on nitrogenfertilizers.25 Nitrous oxide has global warming potential that is310timesgreaterthanCO2.26
• “Agriculture [...] is ranked as one of the three most hazardousindustriestogetherwithminingandconstruction.[...]Exposuretopesticidesandotheragrochemicalsconstitutemajoroccupationalhazards.”27 Every year, despite being highly underreported, anestimated 2 to 5 million agricultural workers suffer from severepesticide poisoning and related illnesses, of which 40,000 arefatal.28
• Increasing numbers of suicides, a phenomenon reported amongfarmersinAsia,canbeattributedinparttoincreasingcostsofinputsandincreasingindebtedness,leadingtoshrinkingprofitmargins.29
Whatiscertainisthatincreasingyieldsforthenext40yearscannotrelyona“businessasusual”modelthatreplicatesthepracticesofthelast40years.Thisiscriticalbecauseby2050levelsoffoodproductionmust increase to meet the demand that will result from increasingincomes,urbanization,dietarychangesandpopulationgrowth.30
agriCulture: a Catalyst for transitioningto a green eConomyEvidenceismountingfromaroundtheworldthat,sustainablesystemsfor agricultural production present viable alternatives to existing,unsustainablefarmingpractices.31Thesesystemsofferopportunitiesforcompetitiveeconomicreturns,thesupplyofessentialandlife-supportingecosystemservices,thecreationofdecentjobsandlivelihoods,smallerecological footprints, increased resilience to climate change, andenhancedfoodsecurity.Somecommontypesofsustainableagricultureinclude:organic,biodynamic,Fairtrade,andGlobalGAP.
eConomiC opportunities• PurchasingpatternsofFairtradeproductshaveremainedstrong
despitetheglobaleconomicdownturn.In2008,globalsalesofFairtradeproductsexceededUS$3.5billion.32
• Sustainable products command high price premiums, resultingin higher income for farmers and others in the supply chain.For example, in Uganda farmers earned up to 100 per centmore for vanilla that is produced organically, compared withconventionallyproducedvanilla.33
• Themajormarketsfororganicfoodandbeveragesexpandedonaverageby10to20percentperyearbetween2000and2007,whileglobaltradein2007stoodatalmostUS$50billion.34
• Sustainableproductsoffertradepromotionandpovertyreductionopportunities.Forexample,while80percentoforganicproducers(a significant proportion of them women) are in developingcountries, about 97 per cent of sales revenue is generated inindustrialized countries.35 This offers the possibility for smallfarmerstobecomepartofthenearlyUS$50billionglobalorganicfoodmarket.36
A. Subsector
Agriculture 15%
Rest of GlobalGHGs 85%
B. Gas
Soils (N2O) 40%
EntericFermentation(CH4)
27%
Rice (CH4) 10%
Energy-Related(CO2)
9%
Manure Mgmt(CH4) 7%
Other (CH4, N2O) 6%
N2O 46%
CH4 45%
CO2 9%
Greenhouse Gases from Agriculture
Source: Baumert et al. 2005.iv
www.unep.org/greeneconomy
• Shifting to organic farming can create between 10 and 30 per cent moreemploymentopportunities,dependingonfarmsizeandcrop.37
• AnUNFoodandAgricultureOrganization(FAO)studythatanalysed50differentcases,mostlyfromtheUnitedStates,reportsthat:“Theoverwhelmingmajorityofcasesshowthatorganicfarmsaremoreeconomicallyprofitable.”38
environmental Benefits• Sustainablymanagedlandsaroundtheworldmaintainhighersoilfertilitythan
othersystems.39Theyalsoproduceyieldsthat,dependingonarangeoffactors,canbeequivalentto,orhigherthan,conventionalfarmingsystems.40
• Organic and biodynamic farming uses 20 to 56 per cent less energy perproducedunitofcropdrymatter.41Resultsindevelopingcountriessuggestthattheenergyefficiencyoforganicfarmingisbetween70and100percent.42
• Greenhousegasemissions,perhectare,fromorganicagriculturalsystemswereonaverage64percentlowerthanemissionsfromconventionalfarms.43
• Thecarbonsequestrationefficiencyoforganicsystemsintemperateclimatesisalmostdoublethatofconventionalmethods.44
• Higherlevelsofbiodiversityhavebeenrecordedonsustainablymanagedfarmsaroundtheworldintermsofbothterrestrialcomponentsandsoilbiodiversity,leadingtoimprovedlong-termsoilfertilityandhealthyecosystems.45
enhanCed food seCurity• A joint UNEP-United Nations Conference onTrade and Development (UNCTAD)
study, conducted by the University of Essex, analysing 114 cases, showed thatfarmers inKenya,TanzaniaandUgandahavedoubledtheirproductivity–andensuredfoodsecurity–byshiftingtheirproductiontoorganicornear-organicmethods.46
• DatafromtheFAOsuggestthatinsubsistenceagriculturalsystems,conversiontoorganicfarmingcanincreaseyieldsbyupto180percent.47
• In2007,Mexicanfarmerscontributedtothecreationofanadditional172,000jobsby converting some agricultural production to organic.48 Creation of betterandmoresustainablejobsinruralareascandiscouragerural-urbanmigrationand support community development, while increasing and sustaining foodsuppliestocities.49
investing in agriCulture for a green eConomyEvidence and analysis suggest that investments in greener and sustainablemultifunctionalagricultureofferhighreturnsaswellasmultipleeconomic,social,andenvironmentalbenefits.GovernmentsandbusinessesarethereforeencouragedtoinvestinsustainableagricultureasacatalysingforceforaglobalshifttoaGreenEconomy.Severalinvestmentopportunitiesexist,includinginthefollowingareas:• Storage and transport infrastructure, especially in developing countries, to
reducepost-harvestlosses;• Greenindustrialisation,foraddingvaluethroughprocessingrawharvestedproduce;• Infrastructure for production, marketing and trade in green inputs, such as
organicfertilizersandbiologicalandintegratedpestcontrolmethods;• Improving irrigation infrastructure and its efficiency, including at the farm
level,toreducewaterlosses;and• Establishing Green Banks and/or micro-credit programmes for farmers and
small-andmedium-sizedenterprisestooffersmall“green” loanstobuyorganicinputsorpayfororganiccertification,forexample.
enaBling ConditionsChangesinbehaviourarerequiredtopromotetheshifttoanevergreenagricultureandthesecanbeencouragedbynewpoliciestomoveawayfromthe“businessasusual”approachthathasdominatedtheagriculturalsectorforthepast40years.Lookingtothefuture,governmentsandstakeholdersshouldfocustheireffortsinthefollowingareas:• Re-directingagriculturalsubsidiestowardssupportingmoresustainableagriculture;• Re-aligningtraderegimestosupportdiversificationofagriculturalproduction
andreducepoverty;• Lobbyingandadvocacyeffortstoencouragegovernments,theprivatesector,
and consumers to reduce food waste, and procure and purchase sustainablyproducedagriculturalproducts;
• Supporting and redirecting agricultural research, academic institutions andtraining of extension workers and farmers to make sustainable agriculture amodelsectorforaGreenEconomy;
• Assistinginstitutionsandfacilitatingpartnershipstobuildsupply-sidecapacities;• Building capacity to meet the requirements of major markets – especially
health and environment requirements – at all stages of supply chains, butparticularlyattheproductionlevel,resultinginthecreationofadecentworkenvironmentandimprovedoccupationalhealthandsafety;
• Building institutions that can train policymakers and negotiators to usea holistic approach to economic decision-making and address issues andnegotiations related to subsidies, fiscal and monetary instruments, andtrade-distortingmeasures,amongothers,astheyrelatetoagriculture;and
• Creatingandstrengtheninginstitutionsandentrepreneurialskillsthatcanensurecontinuityandsustainabilityinagriculture’scontributiontoaGreenEconomy.
All the world’s nearly one billion hungry people could be lifted out of malnourishment on less than a quarter of the food that is wasted in the US, UK and Europe.50
”Conversion to small organic farms would lead to sizeable increases of food production worldwide. Only organic methods can help small family farms survive, increase farm productivity, repair decades of environmental damage and knit communities into smaller, more sustainable distribution networks — all leading to improved food security around the world.“
Christos Vasilikiotis,2000.v
University of California, Berkeley.
15.2
20.925.5
33.2
46.1
0
10
20
30
40
50
Billions of US$
1999 2001 2003 2005 2007
Global Market for Organic Food and Drinks
Source: Sahota, 2009.vi
”The Governments of the region [Asia-Pacific] stand at a crossroads: business as usual, continuing with short-term profits for the few through chemically cultivated, irrigation and energy-intensive monoculture, with the burden of long-term costs shouldered by the many; or, a new, long-term commitment to ecologically balanced, socially just and economically equitable agriculture to ensure food security for all.”
UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific,2009.iii
