Federica Matteoli, project manager of the Environment and Climate Change division of the Fao, is among the speakers at the United Nations food systems pre-summit, taking place in Rome until 28 June. The event precedes the Food Systems Summit scheduled for September in New York. Climate change, she explains to LifeGate, has direct effects on the quantity and quality of food available globally: the solutions, both technological and political, already exist in many cases, but what is needed is an integrated approach involving all the stakeholders, from producers to consumers.

In what ways and to what extent does climate change risk compromising agriculture's ability to feed the poorest populations?
Climate change has a strong impact on the ability to guarantee global food security and to meet the sustainable development goals. This is because it has direct and indirect effects on agricultural productivity: think of reduced rainfall, desertification, and the proliferation of pests and diseases. All of this reduces global harvests and nutrients, especially in countries that are already struggling. By 2050 we need to increase productivity by 70 per cent if we want to give the entire world population the possibility of feeding itself — but we must do so sustainably. Into this already difficult picture, the pandemic emergency has also been added: in one year, the figure for people suffering from hunger rose from 60 million to somewhere between 83 and 130 million. And in 2021 everything suggests these numbers will deteriorate further.

Are there also tangible effects in Italy with regard to the influence of climate change on agriculture? What impact might these effects have on the quality of the food that reaches our tables, and therefore on the Mediterranean diet?
Absolutely yes — our country too is increasingly exposed to extreme climate events, while in some areas desertification is advancing at an alarming rate. The consequence is that the availability of food decreases while at the same time production costs rise throughout the entire supply chain, and therefore so do market prices. The proteins, iron, zinc and vitamins contained in many foods are diminishing as a result of rising CO2 levels. In just one year, due to changes in average temperatures and humidity levels, the quantity of zinc in Italian wheat fell by between 4 and 7 per cent, and that of iron by between 5 and 8 per cent. There is also the issue of the varying incidence of disease — one need only think of the damage caused by Xylella in Puglia. Greater adaptive capacity is therefore needed to mitigate the effects of climate change, but this is only possible provided that farmers are given adequate means and knowledge.

What technical, social and political solutions can be deployed to reduce these risks and to produce food in a more sustainable way?
Many solutions already exist, from more conscious use of water resources to more rational management of pastureland, through to the development of crops capable of withstanding heat more effectively. But every solution must then be translated concretely into context and into a socio-economic situation that varies depending on the area in which one is working; and at a global level we certainly need more coherent policies. As a rule, small-scale producers face major obstacles, both economically and in terms of expertise, when it comes to building a more resilient and innovative form of agriculture. Moreover, the challenges do not end within farms but extend beyond them, starting with the reduction of food waste and the promotion of more sustainable diets. What is needed, in short, is a global vision of the entire policy landscape that involves all stakeholders, from producers to consumers.

Speaking of consumers, are there choices and behaviours each of us can adopt for more sustainable food consumption?
The first fundamental choice is to try to follow the seasonality of products. Reducing food waste is also essential for curbing climate change, because the more food is thrown away, the more greenhouse gas emissions increase. Furthermore, the Mediterranean diet, based on cereals, fruit and vegetables, with reduced consumption of red meat, is not only a guarantee of good health but also represents a bulwark against a changing climate. Of course, imposing the Mediterranean diet in countries whose economies are closely tied to meat production is more difficult — targeted incentives and policies are needed.

Are there examples of applied technologies that have succeeded in mitigating the effects of climate change?
Technology is now a fundamental aspect. For instance, where water is scarce, farmers can be helped to use the right quantities and only when necessary. Or renewable energy can be used in transforming the food system, reducing food waste in the post-harvest stages. And again, early-warning systems can assist in the decisions that need to be made in the face of shifting seasons, with summers that are increasingly long and increasingly dry. Technology, however, must be accompanied by political and social decisions, otherwise there is a risk of building cathedrals in the desert. It is important, for example, to encourage farmers to join together in cooperatives or consortia in order to purchase technological tools that they would otherwise be unable to use.

As currently conceived, is the food system a threat to global biodiversity?
Yes, it is certainly harmful to biodiversity. Fortunately, awareness of the issue is growing alongside concrete projects for the protection of forests. In Ecuador, for example, the Fao has launched an important cocoa production project that takes an integrated approach of climate-smart agriculture with the traditional chakra system: the result is that cocoa is produced within a forest without causing deforestation, advancing productivity growth and respect for biodiversity hand in hand.

By hosting the pre-summit, the Italian government has committed to defining the ambitions that will drive the Food Systems Summit in September. What expectations are there ahead of the New York event?
Italy has always been one of the most committed nations on these issues, so it is almost "natural" — though always important — that it hosted the pre-summit. Expectations ahead of the September event are very high: it will be an opportunity to compare notes and exchange good practices related to agriculture in all its facets, and to find solutions that guarantee safe access to food in every corner of the planet. There will also be discussion of the best ways to embrace more sustainable consumption models, while curbing poverty and making work more dignified for everyone within the agricultural supply chain.