“Scaling-up Agroecology Initiatives for Net-Zero Pathways in the Global South” – Food and Agriculture Pavilion, Blue Zone, 12th November 2025
At the Food and Agriculture Pavilion, CCCS, in partnership with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Global Alliance for a Sustainable Planet (GASP); the AOB Group (ICESCO); and the Food Security and Agriculture Centre of Excellence (FACE), Pakistan, convened a high-level policy dialogue titled “Scaling-up Agroecology Initiatives for Net-Zero Pathways in the Global South.” The event served as a critical platform for advancing science-driven, equity-oriented agroecological transitions within climate-vulnerable regions.
The session opened with welcome remarks from Ambassador Dr. Muhammad Nafees Zakaria, Executive Director COMSATS, and Mr. Hassan Akram, Chief Operating Officer, FACE-FFC, Pakistan. Ambassador Zakaria underscored that scientific research, technological foresight, and evidence-informed policymaking remain indispensable for converting climate and agri-food vulnerabilities into development opportunities. He referenced global advancements, including precision agriculture, climate-resilient varietal development, crop diversification regimes, sustainable consumption patterns, and food-loss mitigation, while noting that adoption across the Global South is impeded by systemic resource constraints, capacity gaps, and uneven digital infrastructure. He reaffirmed that strengthened intra-South cooperation, via shared expertise, co-development of technologies, and coordinated knowledge systems, is essential for narrowing the innovation divide and preventing emergent digital asymmetries.
Mr. Hassan Akram, CEO, FACE-FFC, emphasized the centrality of integrated, community-responsive agroecological strategies in advancing net-zero trajectories while ensuring food-system inclusivity and resilience. He highlighted that scaling agroecology requires a confluence of scientific evidence, technological integration, and participatory stakeholder engagement to enable long-term, climate-compatible agricultural systems.
Moderated by Mr. Hafid Boutaleb, CEO of AOB Group, the high-level panel convened distinguished experts including Mr. Amine Alaoui (Chief Sustainability Officer, OCP Nutricrops); Ms. Caroline Chelsea Manyama (Environmental Sustainability Consultant and Project Manager, Success Hands); Mr. Satya Tripathi (Secretary General, GASP); and Dr. Milena Rosenfield (Member, Brazilian Network for Ecological Restoration – REBRE). The dialogue examined science-validated methodologies and policy-relevant strategies for mainstreaming agroecology as a cornerstone of net-zero transitions within global food and agricultural systems.
Panelists collectively highlighted that agroecology must be scaled through integrated nutrient-management regimes, climate-intelligent soil restoration, and strengthened producer cooperatives that enhance both market access and ecological stewardship. Mr. Amine Alaoui emphasized the role of data-driven fertilizer optimization, regenerative soil nutrition, and landscape-level interventions in reducing agricultural emissions while enhancing productivity and farmer incomes. Mr. Satya Tripathi underscored the urgency of reorienting finance flows, particularly through blended and nature-positive investments, to unlock large-scale capital for community-centered agroecological transformation. Dr. Milena Rosenfield stressed that ecological restoration, biodiversity corridors, and participatory landscape governance serve as foundational pillars for resilient agri-food systems, especially in tropical and subtropical ecosystems facing rapid degradation.
During a substantive audience exchange concerning sustainable meat consumption, Ms. Caroline Chelsea Manyama stressed that the debate must be contextualized within frameworks of equity, culture, and rural livelihoods across the Global South. She clarified that the objective is not the elimination of livestock products, but rather the transformation of livestock systems to become climate-smart, regenerative, and socio-economically inclusive. She elaborated on agroecological interventions, such as rotational grazing models, silvopastoral configurations, improved feed-conversion efficiency, and integrated crop–livestock systems, that demonstrably reduce emissions while enhancing biodiversity, soil functionality, and farmer resilience. She further emphasized that responsible consumption patterns, reduction of food waste, and strengthened support for sustainably produced local commodities can reshape demand without compromising vulnerable communities. Ms. Manyama concluded that the transition toward sustainable meat consumption must be framed as a just transition, ensuring that climate mitigation objectives remain aligned with food security imperatives, cultural practices, and the socio-economic realities of smallholder producers.
