Agriculture has been a cornerstone of human civilization, shaping societies, economies, and landscapes for millennia. While advances in agricultural practices in the second half of the 20th century and science have enabled remarkable increases in food production, they have also contributed to environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, soil and water pollution. These challenges are compounded by growing global populations, intensifying production and consumption patterns, and the escalating impacts of climate change. Meeting the world’s food security needs in a cost-effective, environmentally sound, and socially equitable manner has therefore become an urgent global priority.
There is a pressing need to accelerate the transition towards sustainable food and agricultural systems and to develop or strengthen policy and legal frameworks that support this transformation. Sustainable agriculture, although defined in various manners, broadly encompasses the three pillars of sustainable development, environmental, social, and economic, aiming to manage and conserve natural resources while ensuring the fulfilment of human needs for present and future generations.
The new IUCN publication Policy and Legal Enabling Conditions for Sustainable Agriculture: A Multilevel Comparative Approach examines how international, regional and national legal frameworks can better support the transition toward sustainable food and agricultural systems. The report reviews global environmental agreements, institutional frameworks and national legal regimes, identifying key gaps and opportunities to strengthen governance.
The report also highlights the importance of aligning agricultural policies with global commitments under the Rio Conventions and other international frameworks while strengthening domestic legislation, land-use planning and institutional coordination.
The webinar will officially launch the report and provide an opportunity for authors, reviewers and practitioners to discuss how legal and policy frameworks can accelerate the transition to sustainable food and agricultural systems.