Riyadh/Rome– In a significant move at the UN climate summit on land degradation and desertification (COP16), the US State Department announced a substantial disbursement of $41.1 million towards the Vision for Adapted Soils and Crops (VACS) multi-donor trust fund. This initiative, hosted by the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), aims to enhance soil fertility, promote crop diversity, and boost agricultural productivity, particularly for small-scale farmers grappling with the unpredictable impacts of climate change.
Alvaro Lario, President of IFAD, expressed his gratitude at the summit, stating, “This generous contribution bolsters IFAD’s efforts to support small-scale farmers on the frontlines in their struggle to combat land degradation.”
Cary Fowler, U.S. Special Envoy for Global Food Security and World Food Prize 2024 laureate, emphasized the collaborative effort required to address these challenges. “It’s going to take all of us – the private sector, farmers, NGOs, researchers, and governments – to build a lasting foundation for improved food security. We, the United States, IFAD, and all the members of the VACS movement remain committed to strengthening our food system by expanding access to climate-adapted opportunity crops and integrating them with sustainable land management practices that build healthy soils.”
Lario highlighted the global impact of the VACS initiative, noting, “The VACS initiative has become a global movement for sustainable food security and nutrition, combining science and partnerships. By blending VACS grants with IFAD concessional loans, we can scale sustainable practices that reclaim degraded lands, support biodiversity, and build resilience.”
Addressing Global Challenges
The $41.1 million disbursement is part of a $50 million pledge made by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at COP28 in Dubai last year. These funds are aimed at addressing the severe effects of the climate crisis on food systems.
The investments will focus on drylands, which cover 40% of the world’s land area and are home to two billion people, 90% of whom live in developing nations. Land degradation in these regions is estimated to cost between 4 to 8% of their GDP. The VACS initiative offers a comprehensive solution for sustainable food production and economic stability in the challenging environments of the Global South.
Priority countries for the upcoming work with the new funding include Angola, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia. Investments will target sustainable land restoration, soil health enhancement, and the development of climate-resilient crops tailored to local needs. The focus will include robust seed systems, efficient crop management, and gender-inclusive agricultural advice to strengthen value chains and promote sustainable food systems.
Partnerships for Systemic Change
To scale up solutions for soil health, crop diversity, and the overall sustainability of agricultural systems, IFAD President Lario called for strengthened partnerships with key stakeholders, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Global Crop Diversity Trust (Crop Trust), the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).
“Partnerships are the single most efficient route to achieve systemic change – restoring millions of hectares and stabilizing vulnerable economies at a scale that would be impossible working alone,” said Lario.
He also urged increased public and private investments in land management, targeted at small-scale farmers, that can be leveraged by IFAD’s innovative financing mechanisms. IFAD’s work has already reclaimed 1.9 million hectares globally using agroforestry, conservation agriculture, and innovative irrigation systems, delivering tangible benefits to rural communities.
IFAD-VACS Project in Action
In Malawi, IFAD’s VACS project, with initial support from the U.S. Government, is advancing five climate-resilient crops—sweet potato, sorghum, finger millet, cowpea, and sesame—through improved breeding, community seed systems, and partnerships with agro-processors. A total of 4,000 food-insecure households are improving their access to healthy, nutritious food by introducing 25 new crop varieties, producing 43,000 sweet potato vine bundles, and over 7 metric tons of sorghum and sesame seeds. Every year, 8,000 farmers will learn enhanced practices from eight demonstration farms.
In Côte d’Ivoire, another project is improving soil fertility and stabilizing 1,000 hectares of hydro-agricultural facilities in the Zanzan district, using agroforestry techniques and legumes such as Mucuna and Albizia. Additionally, 10,000 hectares will be mapped for soil fertility, providing essential data to improve crop productivity. The project is reaching over 35,000 smallholders and micro-entrepreneurs, nearly half of whom are women. A total of 5,000 farmers learned climate-smart agriculture techniques through training.
This comprehensive approach underscores the importance of collaborative efforts and innovative solutions in addressing the global challenges of land degradation and food security. The VACS initiative, supported by the US and other international partners, is paving the way for a more resilient and sustainable future for small-scale farmers worldwide.
