FFAR Participates in AIM for Climate at COP26

Washington, DC

WASHINGTON (November 5, 2021) —The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) is proud to participate in the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) at the 26th annual UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26). As an AIM for Climate Knowledge Partner and an Innovation Sprint Partner, FFAR is highlighting three research initiatives that advance climate-smart agriculture.

Collaboration and coordination across governments, companies and industry sectors are critical to mitigating global temperature increases. Without coordination, we risk continuing individual solutions that cannot approach the size and scale of the problem. FFAR is proud to support AIM for Climate by advancing collaborative research, submitted as AIM for Climate Innovation Sprints, that is boldly tackling some of food and agriculture’s most significant challenges. Sally Rockey, Ph.D.
Executive Director Emeritus

The United States and the United Arab Emirates jointly launched AIM for Climate to address the climate crisis. AIM for Climate unites participants and fosters collaboration to accelerate investment in climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation over the next five years. Much like FFAR, AIM for Climate is empowering agriculture to become a climate change solution.

FFAR responded to AIM for Climate’s call for Innovation Sprints, existing research projects that can be amplified through coordination with other AIM for Climate partners. FFAR’s three Innovation Sprints include:

AgMission
AgMission™ is a global collaboration to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in agriculture. FFAR, U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action and the World Farmers’ Organisation established AgMission in 2020 to make agriculture net negative for GHG emissions through expansive agricultural research. This initiative is collaborating with farmers, ranchers and scientists to co-create and expand adoption of climate-smart technologies through the development of a comprehensive, interoperable, data-driven framework that more readily connects farmers and ranchers to innovative scientific advancements.

Fast Tracking Climate Solutions from Global Germplasm Banks
FFAR is partnering with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and CGIAR on a $40 million initiative to unlock key climate-resilient traits from CGIAR’s vast global genebank collections. This research expands the use of high-value genetic diversity to address current and emerging climate challenges faced by millions of smallholder farmers worldwide.

The Greener Cattle Initiative
Next week, FFAR, the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy and several industry partners are launching the Greener Cattle Initiative, a public-private consortium that funds pioneering research to provide beef and cattle producers with solutions for enteric methane emission, a major climate change contributor.

The AIM for Climate panel at COP26 included U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Her Excellency Mariam Almheiri, the United Arab Emirates Minister of Climate Change and Environment. The panel discussed AIM for Climate and highlighted the initial partners and Innovation Sprints.

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Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) builds public-private partnerships to fund bold research addressing big food and agriculture challenges. FFAR was established in the 2014 Farm Bill to increase public agriculture research investments, fill knowledge gaps and complement the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s research agenda. FFAR’s model matches federal funding from Congress with private funding, delivering a powerful return on taxpayer investment. Through collaboration and partnerships, FFAR advances actionable science benefiting farmers, consumers and the environment.

Connect: @FoundationFAR | @RockTalking