With Brazil holding the presidency as both an agricultural powerhouse as well as home to the Amazon rainforest and other critical ecosystems such as the Cerrado, the stage is set to show how coherent land-use policies can deliver for climate, nature, and people alike. For the first time, we may see food systems take center stage in a way that meaningfully links the Rio Conventions, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Paris Agreement.
COP30 is the turning point to mainstream food systems into climate action. CGIAR scientists and FAO with and their global partners are seizing the moment to provide the science, partnerships, and innovations that make global adaptation and mitigation targets achievable, inclusive, and ready for finance.
Extracts of the programme
11 Nov. The full stack: From AI models to ethical policy and farmer impact (IWMI / CGIAR)
This event explored how advanced AI, Earth observation, and digital agronomy can translate into practical benefits for farmers. It focuses on data governance, responsible AI in agriculture, and real-world examples from CGIAR’s work in South Asia and Africa to scale decision-support tools for climate-smart farming.
- Giriraj Amarnath Research Group Leader – Water Data for Climate Resilience IWMI
- Elliot Jones-Garcia Senior Research Analyst IFPRI
- Andrew Howe Ai2 Tek Sapkota Principal Scientist CIMMYT
- Imara Salas Secretariat Director AIM for Scale
- Marcelo Morandi Head of the Office of International Relations Embrapa
12 Nov. Sustainable nitrogen management for climate, food security and livelihoods
A discussion of science-based strategies for cutting nitrogen losses while maintaining yields. CGIAR and FAO researchers shared insights on fertilizer efficiency, circular nutrients, and opportunities for national climate commitments to integrate nitrogen mitigation.
- Valerie Fajardo, Research Fellow International Nitrogen Network
- Martina Otto Head of Secretariat Climate and Clean Air Coalition, UNEP
- Tek Sapkota Principal Scientist CIMMYT Mark Sutton Director of the International Nitrogen Management System (INMS) and GCRF South Asian Nitrogen Hub (SANH), co-chair of the UNECE Task Force on Reactive Nitrogen (TFRN) and co-chair of the UNEP Global Partnership on Nutrient Management (GPNM)
- David Kanter Chair, International Nitrogen Initiative and Professor of Environmental Studies at New York University (NYU)
- Tariq Aziz Regional Director for South Asia at the International Nitrogen Initiative (INI) and Professor of Soil Science at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF)
- Andrea Perez Senior International Affairs Manager Compassion in World Farming Martial Bernoux Team leader and Senior Natural Resources Officer FAO
- Osamu Kubota Deputy Assistant Minister, Export and International Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Japan
- Saskia Sanders Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs and negotiator of Sharm El-Sheik Joint Work in Agriculture
13 Nov. Pulses in school meals — Untapped climate potential
This session highlights the mitigation and nutrition gains achievable by bringing climate-resilient pulses into national school meal programmes. CGIAR crop scientists share evidence from India, East Africa, and Latin America.
- Sid Mehta Founder & CEO Greenworks Inc.
- Lara Gilmour Director of Policy & Sustainability Global Pulse Confederation (GPC)
- Marcela Quintero Associate Director General Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
- Lyana Latorre Vice President, Latin America and the Caribbean The Rockefeller Foundation
14 Nov. Demystifying low-emission food systems and landscapes
A science-based unpacking of what “low-emission food systems’’ actually entail. Presenters discussed how mitigation targets can be realistic for countries with diverse farming systems, and the role of CGIAR in quantifying emission reductions.
- Eliza Villarino Research Specialist Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
- Marcela Quintero Associate Director General Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
- Tek Sapkota Principal Scientist, Agricultural System/Climate Change CIMMYT
- Claudia Ringler Unit Director, Natural Resources and Resilience IFPRI
14 Nov. Introducing AgriLLM: An AI-Powered Agricultural Advisory Service for the Global South
AgriLLM is a collaborative AI initiative leveraging advanced language models to expand equitable access to agricultural knowledge worldwide. It is developing a domain-specific large language model (LLM) for agriculture, benchmarked against leading systems and to be released open-source as a public good - bridging research, policy, and field-level impact.
Established by the International Affairs Office at the Presidential Court of the UAE, with AI71 as the technology partner, AgriLLM is co-led by over 15 global partners including CGIAR, EMBRAPA, the Gates Foundation, FAO, IFAD, the World Bank, and ECHO, alongside universities and research centers.
This COP30 session offered an early look at the initiative’s journey so far - what AgriLLM is, how it was designed, and its grounding in scientific knowledge and local realities - as well as a preview of what’s next ahead of its global launch in December 2025.
- Silvia Massruhá President / Head of Digital Agriculture Embrapa
- Lina Yassin CGIAR AI hub Product Lead CGIAR
- Kate Kamarchuk Director, Client solutions & Strategic Partnerships AI71
- Marcelo Behar Special Envoy for Bioeconomy and Senior Advisor Ambition Loop
- Mamoun Alaoui, AI71 Product Manager/ Technical Lead AI71
- Eliot Jones-Garcia Senior Research Analyst IFPRI
15 Nov. Climate technology progress report 2025
CGIAR scientists and partners assessed advances in climate tech—bioeconomy solutions, emissions monitoring, digital agriculture, and drought-tolerant crops—evaluating which innovations are ready for scaling.
- Alex Godoy-Faúndez Associate Professor & Director Universidad del Desarrollo
- Debora Ley Coordinator, Climate Change National Actional Plan, NDC3.0 Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Guatemala
- Elisabeth Gilmore Associate Professor in Environmental Engineering Carleton University
- Martial Bernoux Team leader and Senior Natural Resources Officer FAO
- Monica Trujillo Research Fellow SEI Latin America
- Sara Lærke Meltofte Trærup Head of Section on Technology Transitions and System Innovation UNEP-CCC
- Stephen Minas Chair of the Climate Technology Centre and Network Advisory Board
The 2025 Climate Technology Progress Report (CTPR): ‘Advancing biobased technologies in the bioeconomy’ examines how advancing the climate and nature agenda through the integration of technology and sustainable biobased solutions can offer a comprehensive and cost-effective pathway to achieving both objectives simultaneously.
The report is intended as a resource for policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders seeking to advance integrated, effective, and equitable climate and nature action in the lead-up to COP 30 and beyond.
15 Nov. Turning innovation into impact: Scaling climate-smart solutions for farmers (IWMI / AICCRA / CGIAR)
This AICCRA-led session presented success cases—index insurance, digital advisories, climate-smart cropping systems—reaching millions across Africa. Emphasis is on partnerships that turn pilots into national programmes.
Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) has six country teams and regional initiatives that work with national and regional partners to transform climate services and scale climate-smart agriculture, increasing access to and use of CGIAR innovations for the benefit of millions of small-scale farmers in Africa.
- Martial Bernaux Team leader and Senior Natural Resources Officer OCB-FAO
- Paula Packer Head of Embrapa Environment Embrapa Environment
- Marina Piatto Executive Director IMAFLORA
- Paul Winters Executive Director AIM for Scale
- Giriraj Amarnath Research Group Leader - Water Data for Climate Resilience (WDCR) IWMI
- Todd Rosenstock Director - Climate Action Science Program CGIAR
- John Mundy Director of Global Partnerships One Acre Fund
- Vincent Martin Director - Office of Innovation FAO
15 Nov. Circular food systems: International solutions for climate action
Showcased evidence from CGIAR research on waste valorisation, nutrient recycling, climate-smart processing, and circular agriculture business models from Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
- João Paulo Pucciariello Perez Executive Secretary of Food and Nutrition Security Osasco City Hall, Brazil
- José Ogawa Mayor of Barcarena, Brazil
- Anna Salminen Chief Specialist Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland
- Sieglinde Snapp SAS Program Director CIMMYT
- Tilahun Amede Director Climate Adaptation Sustainable Agriculture and Resilience AGRA
- Niina Aagaard Director of Communications Nordic Council of Ministers
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17 Nov. Unlocking Finance at Scale for Land Restoration, Climate Adaptation & Food Security
The Resilient Agriculture Implementation for Net-Zero Land Degradation (RAIZ) initiative showcased how restoring degraded agricultural lands is vital for climate resilience, food security, and environmental gains.
By exploring innovative financing mechanisms that blend public, private, and multilateral capital, and sharing best practices across UNFCCC, CBD, and UNCCD frameworks, RAIZ accelerates pathways to achieve land degradation neutrality by 2030.
- James Stapleton Senior Advisor, Advocacy Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT (CGIAR)
- Wendy Franceconi Senior Environmental Scientist Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT (CGIAR)
17 Nov. Agriculture and food security in the Caribbean (IWMI / CGIAR)
This session focused on water-smart agriculture, climate advisories, and innovation ecosystems that support Caribbean states in integrating adaptation into food security strategies.
- Donneil Cain Moderator; Climate Change Coordinator Caribbean Development Bank
- Daniel Best President Caribbean Development Bank
- Todd Rosenstock Director, CGIAR Cliimate Action CGIAR
- Martial Bernoux Team Leader and Senior Natural Resources Officer FAO
- Kristin Lang Director, Department of the Latin America and the Caribbean Region Green Climate Fund (GCF) Secretariat
18 Nov. Strengthening Rural Extension and Advisory Services for a Just Agrifood Transition
This session highlighted the importance of strengthening Rural Extension and Advisory Services to promote a just agrifood transition. It emphasized the role of university outreach, civil society, international organizations, governments, and farmers in addressing climate change. Drawing on evidence and case studies, it showcased collaborative models that advance climate-smart, low-carbon, regenerative, and agroecological practices, linking knowledge, policy, and local action to foster fair, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems for family farmers and traditional communities.
- Marco Teixeira Researcher and Consultant Instituto Escolhas
- Jaqueline Ferreira Research Director Instituto Escolhas
- Graciella Corcioli Professor and General Coordinator School of Agronomy at the Federal University of Goiás
- Paulo Teixeira Minister Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Farming of Brazil
- Gustavo Chianca Assistant Representative – Programme Officer FAO Brazil
- Rodrigo Castro Brazil Country Director Solidaridad
19 Nov. Restoring Soils, Renewing Futures: South-South Cooperation for Climate-Resilient Landscapes
This session explored innovative soil restoration models for climate resilience. It showcased policy, finance, and science partnerships that regenerate degraded lands, promote inclusive south-south learning, and scale soil health solutions for resilience, green jobs, and climate action.
- Leigh Winowiecki Global Research Leader: Soil and Land Health CIFOR-ICRAF
- Aliou Fala Director of Agricultural research
- Sieglinde Snapp SAS Program Director CIMMYT
20 Nov. Finance and Evidence for Soil Health to Advance Climate and Sustainable Development Goals
This session spotlighted soil health as a cross-cutting solution for climate mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity conservation, land restoration, food and nutrition security, farmers’ income and livelihoods. It explored how to build and use credible evidence and scale up successful farmer-led initiatives through fit-for-purpose data, partnerships, and investment. Grounded in cases from Africa and Brazil, as well as youth-led initiatives, the discussion linked scientific and financial innovation to national pathways under the Rio Conventions and the Sustainable Development Goals.
- Hicham El Azami Director of Evaluation & Learning OCP Nutricrops
- Luis Rangel Senior Expert for Sustainable Agriculture Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA)
- Leigh Winowiecki Co-Lead, CA4SH and Soil and Land Health Research Lead CIFOR-ICRAF
- Nick Blong First Assistant Secretary, Sustainability, Climate and Strategy Division Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
- Lily Tanui Project Officer and Climate Action Leader Kenya National Farmers’ Federation (KENAFF)
- Helena Van Tichelen UN Events Coordinator International Association of Students in Agricultural and Related Sciences (IAAS)
20 Nov. Enabling holistic NDCs: Tools for integrated climate, biodiversity & food systems action (Alliance CIAT–Bioversity, IWMI, partners)
A major CGIAR-supported event presented integrated modelling tools and cross-sector planning approaches to help countries upgrade their NDCs to include biodiversity, water, and food system linkages.
- Roberta Makoko NDC Coordinator Malawi
- Sophika Kostyniuk Managing Director Aquatic Life Institute
- Charlotte Pavageau Senior Programme Manager Biovision Foundation
- Greenwell Matchaya Deputy Representative and Senior Economist IWMI/CGIAR, Pretoria
- Moderator: Silvia Mantilla Global Policy & Communications Manager WFA
20 Nov. Scaling solutions for resilient animal & aquatic food systems (CGIAR involvement)
This session highlighted innovations from livestock, aquaculture, and aquatic food research communities—including genetics, climate-resilient breeds, water-efficient aquaculture, and antimicrobial-smart systems.
- Michelle Tigchelar Senior Scientist WorldFish
- Todd Rosenstock Program Director CGIAR
- Anthony Whitbread Program Leader, Livestock, Climate, Environment (LCE) ILRI
- Bernard Kimoro Head climate change and livestock sustainability State Department for Livestock, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Kenya
- Angela Churie Kallhauge Executive Vice President Impact at Environmental Defense Fund
- Maya Rajasekharan Managing Director, Americas Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
- Lucy Njuguna Postdoctoral Fellow Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
- Ana Maria Loboguerrero Director, Adaptive and Equitable Food Systems Gates Foundation
20 Nov. Sustainable and regenerative livestock of the Americas
A multi-country dialogue on grazing management, silvopastoral systems, and regenerative livestock approaches. CGIAR contributes metrics for monitoring ecosystem benefits and emission reductions.
- Mariana Aração Heaf of beef program EMBRAPA
- Cristina Tófoli Executive Coordinator Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas (IPE)
- Allison Thomas COO U.S. Dairy Export Council
- Amanda Soares Roza Technical Advisor for Sustainability and Market Intelligence CNA (Brazil)
20 Nov. Scaling regenerative agriculture from Riyadh to Belém (Alliance Bioversity–CIAT / CA4SH)
Building on the UNCCD COP16 momentum, this session connects regenerative agriculture leaders from Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. It highlights CGIAR evidence on soil health, farmer incentives, and resilience outcomes.
- Pedro de Figueiredo Co-founder and CEO NetZero in Brazil
- Maya Rajasekharan Managing Director Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
- Natalia Bottan Vasconcelos Sustaintability Manager Sygenta
- Isabela Malpighi Chief Sustainability Officer Pepsico Latam
- Osama Faqeeha Deputy Minister for Environment, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Saudi Arabia
- Gabriel Lambert Advisor to the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
- Leigh Winowiecki Global Research lead for Soil and Land Health CIFOR-ICRAF
20 Nov. Family farming and agroecology: Pathways to inclusive & climate-resilient food systems
Explores how agroecology and family farming can drive just transitions. CGIAR’s contributions include metrics, farmer-centred extension models, and evidence on productivity co-benefits.
- Kamyla Borges Senior expert on Agriculture Institute for Climate and Society
- Caroline Rocha Executive Director LACLIMA
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