KEPSA, the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the Climate Overshoot Commission (COC) organized a joint forum on Private Sector Role in Future-Proofing the Food and Agriculture Industry for Climate Change on the 3^rd of May 2023 in Nairobi. The meeting aimed to expound on Kenya’s private sector role in this future-proofing; exploring the potential for private sector engagement in climate change mitigation and adaptation actions within the food and agriculture industry in Kenya and identifying avenues to support and enhance private sector involvement in these critical areas. This comes after the UN climate change summit in 2015 and the international community which set, through the Paris Agreement, an ambitious goal of limiting global warming and keeping within the 1.5 °C threshold in order to preserve resources, species and ecosystems. As the risk of overshooting the 1.5 degrees celsius global warming goal increases, it was imperative to consider alternative strategies for reducing risks beyond greenhouse gas emission reductions.  

KEPSA Chair Ms. Fora Mutahi, while welcoming participants thanked the stakeholders for their dedication to sustainability and highlighted the efforts by KEPSA to support members take actions in reducing the effects of climate change, she noted that the diversification of agriculture and the agricultural food chains is one key way to alleviate poverty. Engaging the private sector in climate-proofing agricultural value chains is key as the private sector dominates much decision-making regarding investments, products and services, and logistics and infrastructure. Diversification and enhancing the resilience of Agri-food systems will support Africa’s efforts to reduce food insecurity compounded by the effects of climate change and high dependency on imports especially for grains. 

The Private Sector Strategy on Climate Change Solutions 2022- 2030 is Private Sectors Commitment to Climate Action and contains priority business climate actions for mitigating climate change towards net zero and strengthening resilience and adaptation as anchored in four priority areas of:

Reducing emissions in line with climate change mitigation ambition of reducing emissions by 1.5 per cent by each business entity,

Enhancing adaptation and resilience ambitions of the private sector value chains including agribusiness,

Building capacity and enhancing business climate information for the private sector, and

Fostering Public-Private Partnerships for climate change, especially financing.

The Principal Secretary State Department for Crop Development in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development represented at the meeting by Eng. Richard Kanui, highlighted the significance of Agriculture to the Kenyan economy as the contribution of 33% of the GDP. The sector is highly sensitive to the change of weather patterns and the adoption of climate-smart agriculture was imperative in order to end the perpetual hunger in the country caused by the impact of droughts. He acknowledged the extremely important role of the private sector in ensuring agricultural sustainability through research, innovations and technology.

In preparation for #COP28, the High-Level Panel moderated by KEPSA’s Faith Ngige, discussed, global and local strategies on climate change solutions and the role of the private sector.

Mr. Pascal Lamy, Chair of the Climate Overshoot Commission, President of the Paris Peace Forum, and Former Director-General of the World Trade Organization; highlighted that the Climate Overshoot Commission as a group of eminent and independent global leaders would recommend an effective, robust, and integrated strategy to reduce risks from possible overshoot of the Paris Agreement’s climate goals. The commission was preparing a report that will be finalized in September. The consequences of not addressing a possible overshoot had dire consequences for all globally.  Climate change is a big threat for the future; calling for the need to assess and to develop adjustment mechanisms. While there exist many tradeoffs, there is a need to balance mitigation and adaptation measures, especially by the private sector.

H.E. Arancha González, Dean, Paris School of International Affairs at Sciences Po, and Former Foreign Minister of Spain, shed light on the strength of the private sector in driving change towards solving local problems caused at a global level such as climate change impacts. “It is important that the global and multinational entities support the small and medium enterprises in adopting green production processes and development of transitioning strategies to net zero status.  There is need to adopt the last mile climate actions support for the private sector. Kenya should prepare not to overshoot 1.5 degrees centigrade. We can’t afford a 2.5-degree scenario and we all must pull in the same direction to ensure we remain within the 1.5 °C global goal threshold.” She remarked.

The Vice President for Strategic Partnerships, AGRA and Chief of Party for the Partnerships for Inclusive  Agricultural Transformation in Africa (PIATA), Ms Vanessa Adams, expounded on the adaptation measures and innovations that could help moderate potential damages associated with climate change in the food and agriculture industry. “It is important to solve the problems of today even as we focus on the future,” said Ms Vanessa. Some of the adaptation measures and innovations included the reduction of the use of biomass in the Tea industry, the use of solar driers, drought resistant crops among other innovations. AGRA whose headquarter is in Kenya, supports farmers build resilience and adopt smart Agri-food systems. To increase productivity and sustain resilience in food systems and nutrition security across Africa, technologies including digital solutions, data management systems, climate-smart varieties, hybrid seeds and agricultural mechanization need to be adopted.  AGRA is also supporting farmers and agri-food industry entities to tap into opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

Ms. Thule Lenneiye, Managing Partner, Acility Africa, explained the need for fostering climate change inter-ministerial coordination especially of the agriculture, trade and environment ministries in order to align strategies and approaches for Agri-food systems.  The incentive to accelerate the private sector to focus investments and efforts in climate change include climate-conscious consumers, climate finance, partnerships for technological transfer and research.

KEPSA Board Director for Food Security & Climate Change, and Chair of the Agriculture Sector Network (ASNET), Dr. Bimal Kantaria, shared on the role of ASNET in mobilizing partners and knowledge for players in the food systems to ensure Kenya remains responsible for the challenges of food security and rural economic growth. Dr. Bimal called for global north and global south collaboration while taking into account local circumstances that are imperative in climate change. One size does not fit all. Policy dialogue between the private sector and the government through ASNET has contributed to significant policy reforms. Policy alignment is nonetheless key in ensuring the private sector is able to innovate adaptive measures across the agri-food value chains.

The private sector in Africa was as such called upon to build evidence on the impact of the transition and measures that African Businesses can adopt to ensure global competitiveness of the region.

 “If we do not cut carbon emissions, the adaptation measures are futile,” noted the Commissioner of the Climate Overshoot Commission and Former President of the United Mexican States, H.E. Felipe Calderon, in the closing remarks. The commission believes that reducing the risks of potentially exceeding 1.5 °C warming is central to all contemporary debates since there is a high likelihood for a global temperature overshoot hence the need to have a contingency plan in the event that happens.  

While 35% of emissions are related to food production, the risks associated with an overshoot will affect many sectors including public health, human rights, international trade and economics, human displacements, sustainable development and social justice. The likelihood of a climate overshoot is imminent and the commission will explore all approaches in providing a coherent and implementable path to address overshot and the risks it poses to human and non-human life.  He concluded by calling for inclusive networks where different stakeholders can exchange and find solutions for the many challenges that the climate overshoot poses.