A new climate deal is expected to be negotiated in Paris at the end of 2015 but currently there is no formal arrangement for addressing agriculture in the negotiations. This could mean missing out on a key opportunity to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while enhancing food and nutritional security, says a press release from the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED).

Agroforestry, says the press release, along with mixed cropping and crop-livestock systems have been identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as measures that can help to significantly lower emissions while increasing food security. But as countries prepare their national contributions to mitigation and adaptation (known as the Intended National Determined Contributions (INDCs)) in the lead up to Paris, there is no scope for practices such as agroforestry to be part of climate negotiations.

The release goes on to discuss how adaptation responses can also have mitigation benefits, drawing on examples from indigenous communities in the Peruvian Andes, Eastern Himalayas of India and in coastal Kenya. “All the communities are planting native trees on or around their farms, to improve moisture, shade and income, store carbon and reduce pressure on forests.”

Scientists and farmers are calling for the Paris climate agreement to support traditional farming systems as they play a crucial role in adaptation and food security, and contribute to mitigation.

Read the press release: Unmissable opportunity to build food security and reduce GHGs at Paris COP