By Nneka Nwogwugwu
A program that aims to reshape the world’s food systems through improved land use and the restoration of degraded landscapes in order to help mitigate climate change, was launched on Sunday by the World Bank, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) and several other partners on the sidelines of the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow.
Led by the World Bank and backed by USD 345 million in funding from the Global Environment Facility, the Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration (FOLUR) Impact Program will leverage USD 2.7 billion in co-financing commitments to improve agricultural systems and policies over seven years.
The initiative promotes an integrated approach to reduce the negative impacts of food production, harnessing the power of governments and the private sector to weave global environmental commitments into food systems.
Its portfolio consists of 27 country-level projects that help restore degraded landscapes and target the supply chains of eight commodities: beef, cocoa, corn, coffee, palm oil, rice, soy and wheat.
“Poor supply chains for major commodities have left a trail of destruction across forests and landscapes as well as communities across the world,” said John Colmey, GLF Managing Director, at the GLF Climate launch event.
“If FOLUR can move those chains onto sustainable pathways this decade, the potential impact on climate, biodiversity and livelihoods is immeasurable.”
