Stakeholders brainstorm on challenges to boost sustainable agriculture.

This is the crux of a regional stakeholder consultation on nature- positive trade for sustainable agriculture which began Tuesday in Yaounde.

Chaired by the Minister Agriculture and Rural Development, Gabriel Mbairobe, the high level meeting is an initiative of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture-IITA Cameroon. 

The two-day workshop which has brought together researchers, trade experts and representatives of farmer organisations is organised with the support of the University of California, Los Angeles and the United Nations Environment Program, UNEP.

Speaking as he chaired the regional meeting, the Minister of Agriculture, Gabriel Mbairobe on behalf of government, saluted the choice of Cameroon as host of the strategic regional consultation.

He recalled that “The Global Challenges Research Fund, GCRF Trade hub project which was launched in Cameroon in 2019, addresses a global challenge that has led to dramatic decline in biodiversity and ecosystem…if this challenge is not properly addressed, it will significantly impede the development of low income nation including Cameroon”.

The Minister recounted that the 2005 Rural Development Sector Strategy was “adopted with the aim of addressing challenges in the sector in order to ensure household food security and self-sufficiency, contribute to economic growth, foreign exchange, employment, increase the incomes of rural producers thus improving their living conditions…it also ensures better use and sustainable management of natural capital as a basis for production”.

“The results of this workshop…will certainly inform national policy decisions” he concluded.

Taking the cue, the country representative of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA, Dr Komi Fiaboe, said the workshop is key to addressing problems faced in the agriculture and trade sectors.

He explained that “At a time when climate change is no more a mere imaginary concept but a real and daily threat to food security and humankind as a whole, sustainable agriculture is no more a choice but a must”.

He continued that “However, addressing the need to feed the growing population while conserving nature, forest cover and biodiversity is a serious global challenge particularly with the lack synergetic initiatives…this challenge is even more important when major humid forest are facing increased pressure from human activities”.

“The Congo Basin forest for instance, the second largest rainforest in the world, represents 30% of the global forest area and faces accelerated degradation due to multiple pressures. Poorly practiced agriculture alone, contributes to up to 84% of the forest cover loss” he continued.

“To address the mission of integrating the dual goal of biodiversity, forest and nature conservation, improving local community livelihood, the University of California, Los Angeles, have joined forces to connect agriculture improvement activities with biodiversity, forest and nature conservation to achieve more efficient trade that will sustainably maintain yields in the heterogeneous environment in the Congo basin as a whole” he concluded.

Meanwhile in a remark earlier, the Deputy Director of United Nations Environment Program, UNEP Regional Office for Africa, Richard Munang described trade as crucial for Africa’s transformative development. 

He said “In Cameroon, the food processing, industrial and export sector is the main source of empowerment, counting for about 60%.  The trade potential for agriculture is therefore immense but the concern is, where does sustainability intersect in trade in agriculture? In Africa, agriculture is the main driver of deforestation, counting for over 17.5 %. This is in addition to climate change”.

He however rejoiced that the holding of the consultation will help proffer sustainable solutions to the numerous problems faced in the sector.

Search for solutions

It should be mentioned that the United Kingdom Research and Innovation, Global Challenges Fund's Trade, Development and the Environment Hub, TRADE Hub project, seeks to address the longstanding tensions between trade-induced economic growth, and the environmental and social impacts, especially for vulnerable communities.

Focused on trade in agricultural commodities and wild species in eight selected countries, the TRADE Hub aims to make trade a positive force in the world to tackle environmental degradation, increased inequality, and social deprivation.

With over 50 partner organizations from governments, trade agencies, industry, research, and civil society from 15 different countries, the TRADE Hub’s research and impact activities are focused towards achieving the Hub’s six “Big Wins”. 

UNEP’s Environment and Trade Hub – as the delivering mechanism for UNEP’s work on trade, is a TRADE Hub partner leading public sector impact and engagement.

Through the partnership, UNEP’s work aims to enhance trade policy research, build capacity and partnerships, and catalyze public policy solutions to support sustainable trade in commodities and wildlife, contributing to safeguard biodiversity, enhance ecosystem resilience, and promote inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development.