Background note on the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
Preparations for COP17 (August 17–28, 2026 – Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia)
Issues surrounding agricultural and food systems (agrifood systems) are increasingly being integrated into the discussions and priorities of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), with a direct link to land restoration, resilience, soil health, and food security.
The FAO defines agri-food systems as a comprehensive framework encompassing the actors and their interconnected activities that contribute to the production of both food and non-food agricultural products. These activities cover the entire process, from production to processing, from distribution to sale and consumption, and through to waste management.
At the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16 – Riyadh, Dec. 2024), issues related to agricultural and food systems were discussed, and a thematic day was dedicated to food systems.
