Food systems sit at the heart of the climate change crisis. They are a primary source of greenhouse gas emissions but also hold powerful pathways to adaptation, resilience, restoration and justice. Misaligned policies and fragmented approaches have deepened the crisis, but transforming food and agricultural systems offers a unique opportunity to deliver for climate, nature and people.

The Ban Ki-moon Centre joined global partners, including WWF and others, for the high-level dialogue “Bridging the Gaps: Advancing Coherent Policies for Climate Adaptation and Mitigation for Agriculture and Food Systems.” 

The event focused on how nature-positive, sustainable, and inclusive food systems can serve as the bridge connecting climate, land, and biodiversity actions. The event resulted in the production of a key-messages document which highlights several key-recommendations ahead of COP30, but the one key-unifying message to leaders at COP30 is “Build nature-positive, sustainable, and inclusive food systems as the bridge connecting climate, land and biodiversity actions – rooted in agroecology, family farming, fair finance, coherent governance, and meaningful participation of local actors.”  

With food systems at the core of both the climate challenge and the solution, discussions explored how coherent policies can accelerate the shift toward resilient, regenerative, and inclusive agriculture. 

BKMC’s Senior Advocacy and Programme Officer, Beatrice Rocca, moderated the Opening Panel, setting the stage for cross-sector dialogue on aligning adaptation and mitigation across food and agriculture systems. Featuring prominent speakers from Brazil´s National Food and Nutrition Security Council and the Brazil´s Ministry of Social Development and Fight Against Hunger from, the panel showcased Brazil’s approach to the food and climate policies, and how the integration of these can truly benefit vulnerable communities and people at large.  

On the panel “Scaling Financing for Climate Actions for Nature-Positive Food Systems,” BKMC Youth AgriChampion 2025, Mhlangeni Chiiko, shared how small-scale farmers struggle to access credit and presented ways in which the challenge can be overcome expertise from the Ministry of contributed his expertise as a speaker, and co-facilitated a breakout session on Capacity Building for Access with a Focus on Youth alongside Senior Project and Admin Associate Roxanne Chao. 

As momentum builds toward COP30 in Belém, the Ban Ki-moon Centre remains committed to advancing integrated, inclusive, and actionable solutions that deliver for people, nature, and the planet. 

The Santos convening provided an intimate and collaborative space in which participants engaged in deeper discussions, share strategies and co-create solutions. The focus will be on identifying the gaps that remain for food and agricultural systems transformation, and on building the bridges between adaptation, mitigation, food, climate, and conservation.

Read the summary document here.