FSF presence at Climate Week NYC and UN General Assembly
FSF’s participation in New York focused on three critical areas:
Developing cost-effective MMRV (Monitoring, Measurement, Reporting, and Verification) systems for regenerative agriculture
Accelerating methane mitigation in the livestock sector to achieve a triple win for nutrition, planetary health, and farmer resilience
Amplifying awareness of the crucial connection between climate and nutrition ahead of the upcoming 3 biodiversity, climate, and combatting desertification COPs
By uniting diverse voices and driving innovative solutions, we reinforced our dedication to building a sustainable and equitable future for all
——— Climate Smart Agriculture Trip with Environmental Defense Fund
FSF Impact Director, Meghan O’Hearn, joined a field trip hosted by partner Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) in Ithaca, NY. The hands-on trip engaging with dairy farmers, vet epidemiologist, nutritionists, and methane researchers was a perfect primer ahead of Climate Week’s macro-level policy and financing discussions. We learned about the state-of-the art research collaborations EDF and Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability are pursuing around adaptive agricultural practices and financing to mitigate climate stressors and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Highlights included learning about precision feeds for the “athlete” dairy cow, visiting Cornell’s Methane Chambers, viewing a functioning dairy cow-carousel for automated milking at scale, and participating in critical dialogues over delicious, farm-to-table meals with the halcyon Ithaca backdrop.
Columbia University Bollinger Convening and World Leaders Forum ——————————————————————————————————
Ambassador Cousin took the stage with President Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi and Prime Minister Garry Conille of Haiti at the prestigious World Leaders Forum during the “Food for Humanity: Unlocking the Potential of Universities to End Hunger and Malnutrition.” In reflecting on her time at World Food Programme and the challenges her co-panelists face in Malawi and Haiti, Ertharin called for ambitious action at the nexus of policy and financial investment to achieve resilient food systems for People and Planet.
——— Unlocking private finance to transform global agri-food systems
In collaboration with The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands and the Boston Consulting Group, FSF hosted a private dinner, bringing together senior leaders from agriculture, finance, and food systems. The gathering focused on advancing the conversation around unlocking private finance to transform agri-food systems, particularly by increasing farmers' access to climate capital. A central theme of the discussion was the crucial role that affordable and robust MMRV (Measurement, Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification) systems play in supporting sustainable agriculture. Attendees emphasized that by strengthening these systems, we can accelerate the transition to more sustainable and profitable agricultural practices while enhancing both environmental and human health outcomes. For more information about our MMRV work, please contact Cedric Habiyaremye at cedric@fsfinstitute.net.
Co-creating Pathways to a Livestock Future that Delivers a Triple Win for People, Planet, and Shared Prosperity ———————————————
FSF partnered with EDF for a closed roundtable conversation to explore strategies to reduce livestock’s climate impact while addressing the complex trade-offs for nutrition and livelihoods. The conversation was informed by insights gathered during a 6-month listening program with industry leaders and brought together diverse stakeholders across the ruminant meat and complementary protein value chains. Some reflections on the discussion:
Consumer demand for climate-smart protein foods remains a shared challenge across conventional meat and complementary proteins– but no one entity across the value chain feels it’s their duty or has the power to change this. How do we tackle this challenge together?
Who pays for livestock transitions is the glaring elephant in the room. One attendee noted - a 50-cent price change is required to have 80% reduction in methane emissions from the average beef hamburger: who will bear those costs? How do we ensure that these costs don’t fall on the farmer or prevent consumers from being able to have choice in accessing affordable, nutritious foods?
Shared innovations can help us achieve our goals together. Blended products that achieve price- and taste-parity with conventional meat but with a lower climate footprint and superior nutritional profile was highlighted as a shared business opportunity that engages diverse protein value chain stakeholders.
There was unanimous consensus among attendees in committing to continue this dialogue -- marking a key, early milestone on our journey of exploring and charting shared pathways forward for collective action. For more information or to join this effort, please contact FSF impact director Meghan O’Hearn at meghan@fsfinstitute.net.
——— Can Livestock Help Solve the Climate Crisis?
Ambassador Cousin joined a panel hosted by Food Tank and The James Beard Foundation in partnership with The Protein PACT to discuss the urgency of greater private sector action around sustainable livestock management and methane reduction - and the vital role climate -smart policy and diversified financing mechanisms must play to drive change at scale.
Access the recording here.
BCG Perspectives – Delivering Value with International Co-Operation —————————————————————————————————
Ambassador Cousin's participation in this event underscores FSF’s commitment to advancing international collaboration as a key mechanism to address global equity challenges necessary to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
——— UNGA Roundtable Breakfast on Global Food Security and Nutrition Public-Private Partnership
During this high-level discussion with leaders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors, Ambassador Cousin contributed to the dialogue addressing the pressing challenges faced by humanitarian organizations and key donors. With tightening budgets, escalating conflicts, and climate change exacerbating food insecurity, the need for bold, creative solutions is greater than ever to reverse these troubling trends.
Science Summit at UN General Assembly (UNGA79) ————————————————————————————————————————
Ambassador Cousin took part in “Collaborative Solutions: Funding the UNCCD COP16 Flagship Initiative for Food Security and Sustainable Development”, a roundtable discussion focused on innovative strategies to combat land degradation, particularly in drylands, and showcased evidence-based solutions that can significantly enhance climate resilience, food security, and livelihoods in vulnerable regions.
Across the week, FSF’s team enjoyed connecting bilaterally with many of our food system heroes and friends. We also had the privilege of attending inspiring and dynamic events hosted by partners, including Tilt Collective’s Food Day, WBSCD’s Growing Tomorrow: Collective Leadership in Regenerative Landscapes dinner, EDF’s morning on From Ambition to Action: Solutions for Lower-methane Livestock, FOLU’s roundtable Coordinated Action to Accelerate the Food System Transformation from Cali to Belem, and many more.
Thank you to our partners for your leadership and collaboration. We couldn’t do this without you!