THOUGHTS FROM A CSO ON COP28

1. Thinking broadly, what are you hoping to come out of COP28 this year?

COP28 holds the promise of significant global collaboration.  I'll remain optimistic about tangible, substantial commitments emerging from this summit. I hope for a shift toward concrete actions and policies that truly address the urgency of climate change. Despite the history of ambitious promises without solid follow-through, I maintain a cautious optimism, hoping this time real progress emerges from the discussions.

2. Is there anything you are particularly worried about?

I have had many conversations with colleagues who argue for systematic change and fast; I have always been a big advocator of nudges to move the system in the right direction, which takes time.

However, having previously spent 4 years working in natural disasters, be that cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, the earthquake in Haiti, as well as managing refugee camp in Bangladesh for Rohingya refugees that had to be relocated due to sea level increases in the Naf River. I always saw disasters as being far away from where I live in the UK. I now see more and more disasters happening closer to home, maybe not at the same magnitude but still having significant impact on the lives of thousands.

This now makes me realise even more that we are in a period that needs not only nudges but significant systemic change.

3. Food systems are a significant contributor to climate change and for the first time, COP will have a major focus on food.  In your view, what are the biggest challenges for the sector that COP28 could address?

The food sector faces several critical challenges that COP28 could address to drive meaningful change:

Sustainable Agriculture Practices: Encouraging widespread adoption of sustainable farming methods is crucial. COP28 should spotlight the need for reduced chemical inputs, soil preservation, and biodiversity conservation in farming practices.

Food Waste: Addressing the staggering amount of food wasted globally is vital. This problem is dear to my heart. My PhD focused on this topic, where I researched the carbon implications of moving from a linear economy to a circular economy where wasted food is utilised. The overwhelming result was that we are better to reduce wasted food than utilise. COP28 should focus on strategies to minimise waste across the supply chain, from production to consumption.

Climate Resilience: With changing climate patterns impacting food production, there's a need to bolster resilience. COP28 should emphasise the development of climate-resilient crops and practices that mitigate risks posed by extreme weather events.

Equitable Access to Food: Addressing food insecurity and disparities in access to nutritious food globally is critical. COP28 should highlight the importance of creating inclusive food systems that ensure equitable access for all.

Supply Chain Transparency: Ensuring transparency and traceability in food supply chains is essential. COP28 should advocate for technologies and policies that promote transparency, enabling consumers to make informed choices about sustainably sourced products. This is where I see what we are building in TRACT having the greatest impact. I attend multiple conferences where participants say there is a need for harmonisation of metrics and data by competitors.  This is foundational to our purpose.

4. Can you foresee any targets being introduced or tightened up at COP28 that will impact sustainability legislation, affecting companies working in the food and agriculture sector?  And if so, how might these affect the day-to-day working of sustainability managers?

Absolutely! COP28 could usher in stricter or new targets that will significantly impact sustainability legislation, particularly for companies in food and agriculture. These could involve cutting carbon emissions, championing regenerative agriculture, or imposing tougher rules on waste reduction and water usage in the industry.

For sustainability managers, this means a need for stricter compliance with environmental regulations and greater pressure to meet these updated targets. They'll likely have to review current strategies and consider more innovative approaches to meet evolving standards. This might involve embracing advanced tech, restructuring supply chains, or adopting more sustainable practices across production.

Sustainability Managers must get practical; their teams should set achievable, realistic targets. No more grand targets set by marketing teams - it's about delivering actionable, evidence-based information to the right people in an understandable format and at the right time. Only then can we drive systemic change.

The rise of data-driven roles in sustainability is exciting. Good data forms the foundation of well-informed decisions.

Given limited sustainability budgets, teams need to prioritize areas with the highest returns. I previously developed a metric called CROI - for every dollar spent on reduction, what's the carbon return?

While carbon remains a crucial focus for many organizations, we shouldn't lose sight of the bigger picture. Taking a systemic approach can yield higher returns on investment. Consider the EUDR: legislation targeting deforestation by requiring organisations to demonstrate due diligence to the EU. Organisations can link this to carbon and land use change calculations. By mapping farm polygons and gauging deforestation risk, companies can not only continue operations in Europe but also streamline their scope 3 emission management.

5. Innovation, new technology and other updates to traditional agricultural practices and food systems can play major roles responding to the threats and realities of climate change. Alongside new sustainability measurement solutions like TRACT, what other new technologies could deliver advances for the food and agriculture sector?

Absolutely, at TRACT we are paving the way in sustainability measurement solutions, but there's a whole realm of innovative technologies that could revolutionise the food and agriculture sector's response to climate change. Here are a few:

Precision Agriculture Tools: These technologies involve using sensors, drones, and AI-driven analytics to optimize farming practices. They help monitor crop health, optimize irrigation, and reduce resource wastage, contributing to more efficient and sustainable farming.

Vertical Farming and Controlled Environment Agriculture: Utilizing indoor farming techniques, such as hydroponics or aquaponics, allows for year-round crop production in controlled environments, reducing water usage and eliminating the need for large land areas.

Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering: Advances in biotech could lead to crops engineered for better resilience against climate stressors, increased nutritional value, or reduced environmental impact during cultivation.

Carbon Sequestration Technologies: Novel approaches that capture and store carbon from the atmosphere can contribute significantly to reducing agricultural carbon footprints.

These technologies, combined with TRACT's measurement solutions, form a comprehensive toolkit for companies aiming to enhance their sustainability efforts in the face of climate change. Each innovation contributes a piece to the puzzle of creating a more resilient and efficient food system.