Harnessing the Power of Nature-Positive Production for Climate Adaptation in Africa

Scientists and practitioners in agriculture, climate and biodiversity met in Nairobi at an inception meeting convened by WWF-Kenya, Africa Food Future Initiative - a WWF Food Practice Initiative - and WWF-Germany to build support for more significant investments in agricultural adaptation through Nature-Positive Production.
 

Commenting on the importance of the meeting, Nancy Rapando, Africa’s Food Future Initiative Lead at WWF, said: 

“It is a paradigm shift from extractive agriculture and food to where we farm with biodiversity.  Agriculture and food system actors will be able to develop the role of nature in driving agriculture and in the long run ensure nature is conserved for enhanced productivity.”

WWF and partners aim to develop practical Nature-Positive Production case studies across a diverse array of ecosystems, from rangelands to arable systems. 

WWF’s Global Food Practice leads Action Track 3 for the United Nations Food System Summit on Nature-Positive Production, which promotes nature as part of a sustainable food system and recognizes the links between agricultural production systems across landscapes and conservation areas. 

The meeting brought together diverse experts from natural science and policy.

The participants represented the Alliance of Biodiversity and CIAT, the University of Nairobi, the International Livestock Research Institute, the Adaptation Consortium, the African Group of Negotiators Expert Support, South Rift Association of Land Owners, Welthungerhilfe, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Center for Research and Development in Drylands, Kenya Organic Agriculture Network, WWF-Germany, and WWF-Tanzania. 

A key outcome of the meeting was gathering initial ideas on potential agricultural adaptation projects, focusing on key ecosystems such as water basins, rangelands and coastal landscapes.

By Paula Oyomo