Emerging markets (EMs) are home to 80% of the world's population, with Southeast Asia, India and Africa together consuming one-quarter of global energy. With changes in lifestyle brought about by growing affluence projected in these EMs – cars, air-conditioning, larger homes, and higher protein diets, their share of global emissions may rise to 73% by 2050. Thus, achieving our collective climate goals requires supporting a technological leapfrog and rapid adoption of renewable energy production and consumption in EMs.
Food is necessary for survival. Yet today, food supply is coming under pressure by a confluence of challenging factors, such as land, water, and labour resource availability. Food production has already altered our planet more than any other human activity. It is responsible for more than one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, 70% of freshwater usage, and 80% of deforestation worldwide. Livestock also accounts for 60% of mammal biomass. It has been coined one of the greatest causes of biodiversity loss.
How do we produce food effectively without harm to our planet? How do we forge a sustainable agri-food system that not only nourishes mankind, but also nurtures the planet? What are some innovations we can tap on to leave little to no trace of carbon footprint in our endeavour to feed the world? What levers can we pull to transform the industry to become net-zero and nature-positive? This session will discuss the role of nature’s building blocks in building a net zero and nature-positive agri-food system.