Amid huge challenges for global food security, one crucial topic will be debated this month in Lima: How do we adapt our crops and seeds for an uncertain future?
The stakes could not be higher for the billions of human beings who are most vulnerable to the lack of sufficient, affordable, and nutritious food. From Nov. 24, governments from around the world will gather in Peru’s capital for five days for a critical meeting on the future of our food system. The gathering brings together 154 countries and the European Union to collaborate and cooperate on issues that affect what we eat and how we grow it.
Climate change, biodiversity loss, conflict, and economic instability are placing unprecedented pressure on agriculture. The geopolitical environment is undergoing rapid change, straining multilateral collaboration. At the heart of our response lies crop diversity — the wealth of seeds, varieties, and genes nurtured by Indigenous communities, farmers, and plant breeders across centuries.