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As World Food Day approaches in October, we are urged to consider a key intersection between the fundamental human right to food and the impending threat of climate change. This year’s theme — Right to foods for a better life and a better future, is a rallying call for action, encouraging us to adopt climate-smart agriculture methods to ensure food security for all.

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is a concept that seeks to improve food systems by increasing productivity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions as a response to climate change. Understanding and advocating CSA practices such as soil and water management, crop production, urban agriculture, and agro-processing is critical, especially for young people for the following reasons:

  1. Resilience: CSA practices, such as planting drought-tolerant crops and installing better water management systems, assist farms in dealing with more frequent harsh weather occurrences.
  2. Efficiency: By utilizing precision agriculture and smart resource allocation, CSA boosts yields while minimizing environmental impact, making the best use of our limited resources.
  3. Sustainability: CSA increases long-term food production capacity by lowering dependency on chemical inputs and promoting soil health, guaranteeing that future generations can feed themselves.
  4. Innovation: From AI-powered farming applications to vertical gardening in urban settings, CSA embraces cutting-edge technology, providing exciting chances for tech-savvy students to make a meaningful difference.
  5. Economic viability: By optimizing inputs and improving yields, CSA can improve farmers’ livelihoods, making agriculture a more appealing and viable career path for young people.

A study conducted by the World Bank discovered that if women worldwide had the same access to productive resources as men, they could increase yields on their farms by 20–30% and raise total agricultural output by 2.5–4%. This emphasizes the need to ensure that climate-smart agriculture is inclusive. Women play an important role in global food production, but due to the impediments to resources, training, and decision-making opportunities, they are unable to harness their full potential. These impediments can be combated by raising awareness about the negative effects of non-inclusive farming practices as well as equipping women with the tools and knowledge to practice sustainable farming. Empowering women in agriculture is more than just ensuring equity; it is critical to optimizing the collective ability to adapt to climate change and maintain food security.

Furthermore, the involvement of young individuals, regardless of gender, plays a vital role in ensuring successful adoption of CSA practices. This is as a result of their innovative spirit which make them capable advocates for CSA practices and guarantees long-term progress even as they pursue professions in sustainable agriculture, support local food systems, advocate for climate-friendly policies, and develop new technology.

As we commemorate World Food Day, it is important to be aware that the process of food production is just as important as the right to food.  By adopting and improving climate-smart agriculture, we can create a more resilient, egalitarian, and sustainable food system for all which is much more than just feeding people now, but about ensuring sustenance in an uncertain climate future.

Our communities and the world at large are dependent on imbibing CSA practices. Join us as we work together to make climate-smart agriculture the norm, ensuring food security for future generations.