Baku, Azerbaijan – To make it easier for farmers to navigate the many initiatives and programmes supporting climate-resilient agrifood systems, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Azerbaijan COP29 Presidency, launched the Baku Harmoniya Climate Initiative for Farmers today. This platform consolidates diverse efforts, empowering farmers, villages, and rural communities to adapt to climate challenges effectively.
Currently, over 90 global and regional initiatives, networks, and partnerships aim to address similar goals. However, their scattered efforts highlight an urgent need for alignment, coherence, and shared learning to maximise impact.
An Unmatched Opportunity
Kaveh Zahedi, Director of FAO’s Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity, and Environment, described the initiative as a groundbreaking step at COP29. “This initiative offers an unparalleled opportunity to collectively drive climate solutions through agrifood systems,” he stated. Zahedi emphasised FAO’s commitment to partnering with the COP29 Azerbaijan Presidency, future Presidencies, and stakeholders to fast-track the transition to sustainable and resilient agrifood systems.
You may also like to read – Prof. Rajeev Varshney of Murdoch University named to Clarivate’s Highly Cited Researchers List for 11th year in a row
COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev officially launched the initiative. Joining the panel were influential leaders, including Azerbaijan’s Minister of Agriculture Majnoun Mammadov; Burundi’s Minister of Environment, Agriculture, and Livestock Prosper Dodiko; and Uruguay’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Fernando Mattos Costa. Other key figures included representatives from Japan, Germany, Norway, the Azerbaijan Rural Women’s Association, the World Bank, UN Women, and the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO).
A Platform for Action
Introduced during COP29’s Food, Agriculture, and Water Day, the Harmoniya Initiative will operate under the Food and Agriculture for Sustainable Transformation (FAST) Partnership, a multi-stakeholder platform created at COP27. FAST focuses on enhancing climate finance for agrifood systems in vulnerable regions.
The initiative also strengthens COP-to-COP collaboration, connecting efforts between Azerbaijan, Brazil, and Egypt as FAST co-chairs. By COP30, under Brazil’s Presidency, the platform aims to showcase progress, focusing on programmes that clarify initiatives, share experiences, and identify synergies.
Driving Investment and Empowerment
Harmoniya aims to attract investments from both public and private sectors, working with Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and Agricultural Public Development Banks (PDBs). The initiative focuses on empowering farmers, particularly women and youth, and fostering climate-resilient rural communities.
Evidence-Based Solutions
The Baku Harmoniya Climate Initiative prioritises evidence-based strategies and science-backed practices to ensure resilient and sustainable agriculture. It will enhance climate policies, support diverse agricultural systems, and seek co-benefits, including increased farmer resilience, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and improved biodiversity and soil health.
You may also like to read – FAO Feature: Women and youth spearhead agricultural transformation in Bangladesh
By reducing food loss, addressing water scarcity, and integrating innovative approaches, Harmoniya aims to support global biodiversity and climate goals. Additionally, it plans to spotlight success stories during the 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Meeting Global Challenges
Climate change is increasingly threatening global food and water security, but agriculture offers solutions that address adaptation, mitigation, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through agrifood system transformation, the Harmoniya Initiative targets these intersecting challenges, creating a foundation for a more sustainable and equitable future.
Photo credit: ©FAO/Alessandra Benedetti
