Agrifood System Technologies and Innovations Contribute to Climate Action in the Indo-Pacific Region

The detrimental impact of Covid 19, Ukraine-Russia War and Extreme Weather are major contributors to the Indo-Pacific food crisis. The World Food Programme (WFP) predicts that the food crisis will increase malnutrition, particularly among women and children. This is particularly troubling given that the Indo-Pacific region already has the world's greatest burden of all forms of malnutrition, including childhood wasting, stunting, and micronutrient deficiencies. The influence of geopolitical tensions, internal unrest, and climatic change on vulnerable groups may also increase the number of malnourished individuals.

As a result of current events, several governments are dealing with rising debt, falling foreign exchange reserves, and an unclear growth forecast. As a result, their institutional capacity to sustainably reduce the impact on vulnerable households and respond to it will be diminished. How may advances in agrifood technology and other forms of innovation lessen the blow? Replicating effective technology and breakthroughs in areas where they are most needed would need a concerted effort by governments, NGOs, and the private sector to combat the food crisis in the region.

Existing innovations and technologies within the agrifood system that aid in combating climate change should be given priority. This is especially true of those that foster sustainability, cut down on emissions, maximize resource use, and protect communities against the effects of climate change.  Countries may improve their agricultural sectors and adapt to climate change by adopting and scaling up these ideas.

The following are some examples of technologies and innovations that have been implemented in agrifood systems at the country level in order to combat climate change:

Australia

Australia has embraced precision farming techniques for raising cattle in order to maximize output while reducing negative environmental effects. These technologies comprise real-time data analysis, sensor-based animal health monitoring, and GPS tracking. Precision livestock farming lessens greenhouse gas emissions, uses less water, and fosters sustainable livestock management through increasing feed efficiency, cutting resource waste, and optimizing grazing techniques.

Kenya

In Kenya, mobile payment platforms such as M-Pesa have transformed the agriculture sector. Smallholder farmers can use these digital platforms to gain access to financial services such as loans, insurance, and savings accounts. Farmers can invest in climate-smart technologies such as drip irrigation, solar-powered pumps, and weather monitoring systems if they have access to finance. This increases their resilience to climate change, boosts productivity, and reduces their environmental impact.

India

To lessen its dependency on nonrenewable energy sources and cut down on its overall carbon footprint, India has been at the forefront of developing solar-powered irrigation systems. Solar panels are used in these systems to create electricity, which is then used to power water pumps that are used for irrigation. Solar-powered systems contribute to climate action by cutting greenhouse gas emissions, improving energy efficiency, and providing farmers with access to clean energy at an affordable price. 

China

Aquaponics and other novel integrated aquaculture and agricultural methods have been widely adopted in China. Fish are raised on rice paddy fields alongside rice growing for the purposes of nutrient exchange and pest control in a practice known as rice-fish farming. Together, fish farming and hydroponic plant cultivation form a mutually beneficial system known as aquaponics. These methods lessen the impact on the environment by maximizing the use of available resources while decreasing the amount of chemicals used in production.

For a more climate-friendly and resilient agrifood system, countries in the Indo-Pacific region can improve resource efficiency by adopting precision agriculture, solar irrigation, integrated systems, and digital platforms.