On the closing day of the Expo, March 31, shedding some light on the Food, Agriculture, and Livelihoods Week

The Expo 2020 Dubai, which is the first to be hosted in a Gulf region, comes to its end after organizing more than 30,000 events in 180 days across 96 locations.

The finale of the Expo on March 31 would be a historic one marked by scintillating programs.

There is going to be a beautiful firework display at midnight and at 3 am, while the celebrations continue throughout the night.

On the same note, let’s take a look back at Food, Agriculture and Livelihoods Week, one of the theme weeks of the greatest show on earth, through the eyes of Mariam bint Mohammed Al Mheiri, the UAE’s Minister of Climate Change and Environment.

From 17th to 23rd February, several events took place based on this industry. It explored how to sustainably grow food to meet the needs of future generations.

During the Food, Agriculture and Livelihoods Week at Expo 2020 Dubai, Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Almeria said the UAE hosted the first ministerial meeting of the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate), a global initiative run jointly by the UAE and the US aimed at increasing and accelerating investments in agricultural innovation.

The two countries launched the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) at COP26 climate talks in November aiming for a $4 billion investment from governments and non-government innovation partners between 2021-2025.

Partners set a goal of doubling that investment to $8 billion by November 2022 at the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

AIM for Climate welcomed seven new government partners – Chile, Costa Rica, Egypt, the European Commission, Guyana, Mozambique, Turkey – bringing the total to 40. Together, these government partners provide the crucial foundation of the initiative through their ability to increase public investment in climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation.

Non-government partners, including businesses and philanthropies, are building on the foundation through “Innovation Sprints,” which are investments in specific, expedited activities that address AIM for Climate objectives. With the newest addition of the IBM Sustainability Accelerator, there are now nine innovation sprints underway.

At the ministerial meeting, she said that Agriculture and food systems offer many opportunities for global climate action. By catalyzing innovation in climate-smart agriculture, harmful emissions and sequestering carbon in the sector can be reduced. Sustainably can increase productivity to feed a growing global population, and support farmers on the frontlines in building resilience and adapting to the impacts of climate change.

She further said that while AIM for Climate has had a notable start at COP26, raising the bar to mobilize even greater investments and coordinated support to drive global food systems transformation can be achieved. By working together and drawing on the diverse knowledge and experience of countries and actors across the value chain, we can enable a quantum leap in agricultural innovation and address our shared climate challenges.

Innovation sprints are investments in specific, impactful, expedited efforts by our non-government partners. Our innovation sprints for 2022 will be launched at COP27. Proposals can be submitted at info@aimforclimate.org by August 31, 2022. They don’t necessarily have to relate to the focal areas, but those that do will receive higher consideration. We encourage innovation sprints that involve three or more partners, have a total monetary value of $50 (Dh183.66) million or more, complement an existing innovation sprint, or expand its scale or scope.

The efforts in a new era of collaboration will enable us to do great things to enhance food security, advance sustainable development, and combat climate change. The Food, Agriculture and Livelihoods Week was an opportunity to sow the seeds of change for climate-resilient, innovation-driven food security.