Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA)

Implications for Feed the Future and agricultural programs in USAID

The intersection of climate change and agriculture

• Climate change poses major risks resulting from erratic weather, temperatures and precipitation changes, rising sea levels, increased frequency of extreme events etc

• Small-holder farmers, pastoralists and fishers in the least developed countries are especially vulnerable

• Agriculture also a driver of climate change, both directly and through conversion forests and wetlands

Image from http://bit.ly/1BhCdBb

Development Policy Context for CSA

• September 23, 2014 President Obama issued Executive Order #13677 on Climate-Resilient International Development at the UN Secretary-General’s “Climate Summit”

• USG joined many other nations and organizations in launching the Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture

A working definition of CSASustainably increasing agricultural productivity and

incomes;Adapting and building resilience to climate change;

andReducing and/or removing greenhouse gas

emissions, where appropriate (the FAO definition uses possible).

Image courtesy of FAO

CSA Aspirational principles• Holistic approach: CSA is not a practice(s), but a process that considers challenges

that arise at the intersection of climate change and agriculture , including barriers to adoption.

• Intentionality: CSA deliberately considers how climate change will impact activities (adaptation) and, where appropriate, how activities will impact climate change.

• Multiple benefits: CSA integrates options that maximize synergies and reduce tradeoffs to achieve multiple benefits.

• Context specific: CSA is specific to the relevant geography and climate change impacts as well as socio-economic, political, cultural, and environmental factors.

• Long-term perspective: CSA combines short term needs with a long-term perspective that considers future climate change, remains flexible and integrates new information.

Programmatic and implementation implication

1.Sound climate data and science.

2.Development of climate smart technologies and innovations

3.Strengthen human and institutional capacity.

4.Strengthen the enabling environment.

5.Partnerships for Impact.

• ResourcesAGRILINKS https://agrilinks.org/activity-cross-cutting/climate-smart-agriculture

CLIMATELINKShttps://www.climatelinks.org