The global agrifood system has been largely overlooked in the fight against climate change. Yet, greenhouse gas emissions from the agrifood system are so big that they alone could cause the world to miss the goal of keeping global average temperatures from rising above 1.5 centigrade compared to preindustrial levels.
Globally 30 percent of the food produced never reaches to a human stomach (FAO, 2021). Tackling food loss and waste benefits the climate, food security, and sustainability of agri-food systems. India suffers a food loss of about Rs.
India suffers a food loss of about Rs. 1.53 trillion (USD 18.5 billion) every year as per the latest large-scale study conducted by NABCONs during 2020 to 2022.
Typical agriculture sectors like animal production and processing, aquaculture and its processing, and fruit and vegetable processing, can be water-intensive and generate complex and sometimes severe pollution.
Agriculture is multi-functional, producing economic goods including food, feed, fibre, and fuel, as well as providing several intangible or non-tradable services to society free of cost.
Developing and maintaining a secure and equitable water future underpins prosperity and peace for all. The relationship also works in the opposite direction, as poverty and inequality, social tensions, and conflict can amplify water insecurity.
The year saw the last of the COVID pandemic-delayed milestones completed. Countries adopted major decisions to improve global chemicals management and protect marine life in international waters. But most of the year was about making all these rules work.
The agriculture sector receives substantial fiscal subsidies in various forms, including through programs that are linked to production and others that are decoupled.
A working group under the Niti Aayog said an 'open-ended' procurement of wheat and rice from farmers at MSP acts as a disincentive for crop diversification, and suggested that the Centre should purchase these commodities only to meet the requirement under the food law and other welfare schemes.