Dear colleagues, distinguished panelists, representatives of government and civil society,

It is an honor to stand before you today to discuss how agriculture and forestry innovation and finance can help countries scale up ambition towards COP30 and beyond.

The global agricultural system is expanding its terrestrial footprint, particularly into forest ecosystems, to meet the growing global demand for food—a demand expected to double in the next 50 years. This expansion can come at a severe cost to the environment, worsening climate change and accelerating biodiversity loss. 

Scientists warn that over 80% of global deforestation results from the expansion and mismanagement of agricultural land to produce a small group of high-demand commodities: cattle, wood, palm oil, soy, cacao, and coffee. Alarmingly, food systems are responsible for more than one-third of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. 

Addressing these issues is imperative. We must realign agricultural production and food systems with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and global climate and biodiversity targets. 

At the same time, the transformation of global and local food markets is leaving smallholders increasingly vulnerable, with rising production risks and declining harvests. This calls for a united front—governments, Indigenous Peoples, civil society, consumers, the financial sector, and agribusiness companies must all play a role in driving solutions. 

Investing in responsible supply chains is not just an environmental necessity but also a business and a social imperative. Initiatives promoting environmental conservation and sustainable development are critical for long-term economic viability. 

Fortunately, there are already promising examples of transformation, as we will see in today’s event. These pioneer countries demonstrate how radical collaboration and innovation can transform agricultural supply chains to benefit the climate, biodiversity, and rural communities. 

We will hear about Ghana’s policies and practices on sustainable cocoa and shea butter production that are driving tangible ecosystem restoration and significant emission reductions. These efforts are also improving the livelihoods of smallholders, particularly women, by fostering inclusive and equitable economies. 

Colombia demonstrated remarkable leadership at COP-16 by advancing key elements of the global biodiversity framework. Today, they will show how to implement cross-sectoral actions in the forestry and agriculture sectors, by reinvesting results-based financing, Colombia is effectively channeling and leveraging investments in sustainable commodity supply chains. These efforts foster sustainable land-use practices that create mutual benefits for both forests and agriculture.

We will also hear an intervention from Vietnam, the world’s second-largest coffee producer after Brazil, advancing its efforts in sustainable coffee production. These initiatives have the potential to make significant contributions toward halting deforestation and achieving the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) goals.

Lastly, we will hear a message on the partnership between Ecuador, UNDP, and local producers, Lavazza and other companies, exemplifying the potential of aligning public and corporate policies to drive a sustainable future. These innovative solutions tangibly decouple deforestation from coffee, cacao, and livestock supply chains by embedding transparency and traceability.  I look forward to learning more on this successful model of public-private collaboration.

Colleagues, it is clear that successful models of public-private collaboration with integrative approaches in the productive sector, aligned with market-based regulations on deforestation-free commodities, exist and that it is possible to find innovative solutions to address deforestation in agricultural supply chains.

However, to ensure progress, we must do more. All stakeholders need to integrate, scale up, and adequately finance sustainable agricultural and forestry practices. 

As we move toward COP-30 in Belém, Brazil, the focus will be on tropical forests, especially the Amazon region.

NDCs and National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) must demonstrate policy coherence, be actionable, and rely on robust institutional and financing frameworks. These processes should build upon a decade of work in the forest and land-use sector, including governance frameworks, Indigenous Peoples' and local communities’ participation, monitoring and reporting, social and environmental safeguards, and results-based financing.  Through the Climate Promise, UNDP is coordinating with the UN system to make sure the next round of NDCs, the heart of development plans, reflect this integrated approach. 

At the UN-REDD Programme partnership, we remain committed to supporting these critical efforts. Let the inspiring ideas and actions that will be shared today be replicated and expanded by other countries and regions. 

Thank you all for your attention and collaboration.