COP28 Series: Genetic Technologies

Food systems are responsible for a third of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, and already half of the world's habitable land is devoted to agriculture. While crop land use has become more efficient over time, meaning that less land is theoretically needed to produce a given quantity of food, large-scale land clearance and deforestation continue apace. There is also concern that many modern farming methods are unsustainable. For example, as long ago as 2015 it was reported that a third of all arable land had already been lost to erosion and pollution, and algal blooms and watercourse pollution caused by nitrate runoff from fertilised fields are well-documented. It is perhaps surprising, therefore, that COP28 in 2023 was the first Conference of the Parties to devote a full day to food and agriculture. COP28 unveiled the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation food system roadmap, which highlights the role of technology and innovation in responding to challenges