Side Events on 24th October

The Livestock Research Group (LRG) is holding its Annual Meeting on 24 October 2024 in Berlin, Germany. The meeting’s theme is “Mitigation in action”, building on over 13 years of working collectively to advance global research activities and building capability for reducing livestock greenhouse gas emissions.
Since its inception, the LRG has emerged as a powerful mechanism to harness the strengths of the global research community to work across boundaries and advance collective knowledge. With renewed interest by the wider global community into the role of livestock and climate change and the emergence of new partners and initiatives, it is now an optimal time to re-consider how the LRG can help further advance the global effort into the mitigation of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.

This year our discussions will centre on:

• Flagship projects - what has worked, what has not and where should the focus of the LRG flagships be for the future?
• Research Networks - enhancing network activities, where to from here?
• Partners and opportunities - how can the LRG and its networks get involved?
• Science to policy - supporting a science informed environment for policymakers

Outcomes of the meeting

• LRG Work Plan for 2024/25
• Guidelines and target areas for future Flagship projects and other LRG initiatives, including activities with GRA partners
• Plan for restructuring and refreshing LRG networks
• Plan for LRG engagement with the GRA ‘Science to Policy’ initiative

The Inventories and Nationally Determined Contributions (I&NDC) Network aims to improve the quality of national greenhouse gas inventories and agricultural NDC’s, through effective communication of relevant information and training opportunities, and by better connecting governments and decision makers to the relevant experts. It is a Network of the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases.

This meeting is an opportunity to hear about the activities of the Network. We will discuss the Science to Policy Interface and how agricultural Inventories can help in this area, and the challenges faced by GHG emissions compilers when estimating emissions from agriculture. We aim to identify and prioritise activities for the Network to be carried out over the following year. We welcome all participants involved in or interested in this work area, including researchers, policymakers, industry bodies, funding bodies especially in the capability building space, and community representatives.

Organizers: Animal Health Network, INDC network, NZ Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)

The objective of this meeting is to discuss and develop key components of a new project aimed at reducing emissions from livestock systems through improved animal health.

The project seeks to develop a comprehensive framework that understands and leverages the relationship between animal health and climate mitigation. Key objectives include:

• Establishing an Animal Health & Climate Research Framework: We aim to identify and codify an overall approach to understanding the impact of animal health on climate change. This involves convening expert panels and workshops to collaborate on the scientific underpinnings of this relationship.
• Implementing Policy Frameworks in Selected Countries: Building on the research framework, we plan to work with five countries as lighthouse projects to translate scientific insights into actionable policies. This includes integrating animal health improvements into national climate policies, including National Determined Contributions (NDCs).
• Developing a GRA Flagship Proposal: To scale our efforts and secure additional investment, we intend to formulate a flagship proposal under the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA). This will help coordinate international research and drive innovation in sustainable livestock production.

Provisional Agenda:
1:30 – Introductions
1:45 – Project overview: Animal Health & Climate initiative
2:00 – High level presentation of draft Scientific framework, followed by Q&A
2:30 – Policy implementation discussion

• Brief overview of accounting framework and NDC integration
• Group discussion: Refining approach and target countries

3:00 – Break
3:15 – GRA Flagship proposal development

• Introduction to GRA Flagship concept
• Collaborative brainstorming session

4:30 – Wrap-up: Action items and next steps
4:45 – Meeting adjourns

Objective:

The objective of this workshop is to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, including researchers, policymakers, industry leaders, and community representatives, to collaboratively identify and prioritize the research and policy needs essential for advancing the implementation of circular food systems. By fostering a comprehensive understanding of current challenges and opportunities, this workshop aims to develop actionable strategies that can drive innovation and sustainability in the agri-food sector. The ultimate goal of the workshop is to create a first research and policy agenda that supports the transition towards circular food systems, promoting resource efficiency, reducing waste, enhancing food security and environmental, ecological and social sustainability on a global scale.

After an introduction talk on Circular Food Systems (CFS) we will identify with the help of 3D modelling what is needed for the next steps towards circular food systems.

Agenda:

Host is Rianne van Zandbrink (WUR, CFS network) Co-host Flavia Casu (FAO, CFS network)

Introduction and context setting

08:30-09:00: Walk in with coffee and tea

09:00-09:20: Welcome and Opening Remarks

• Welcome (Rianne)
• Introduction by the Circular Food Systems Network (Flavia)
• Objectives of the workshop and introduction speaker (Rianne)

09:20 –09:50: Current state of Circular Food Systems by Lara Sibbing

Break

09:50-10:10: Break (+ CFS team preparing 3D modelling)

Interactive Session: Identifying Research and Policy Needs via 3D modelling (Rianne)

This workshop of the Circular Food Systems Network (housed under the GRA) is aimed at shaping the needs in terms of research and policy to advance the implementation of circular food systems.

10:10–11:45 3D modelling

Participants are divided into small groups to discuss via 3D modelling:

• Key research needs for advancing circular food systems
• Policy gaps and opportunities for supporting circular food systems

Wrap-up: key outcomes and next steps

11:45-12:00 Closing remarks and next steps

12:00-12:30 Reserved time for run-out, questions or networking

Preliminary meeting agenda:

11:00 – Introducing the GRA IRG soil carbon sequestration network – Jean-Francois Soussana

11:10 – The EC funded ORCASA project – Suzanne Reynders

11:20 – The impact for soil online platform – Suzanne Reynders

11:40 – Monitoring Reporting Verification of soil carbon – Jean-Francois Soussana

12:00 – The international research consortium on soil carbon – Suzanne Reynders

12:15 – Discussion and next steps

The IRG meeting on the 24th October will provide an opportunity to understand the advances and the demands by the networks attending and to understand viewpoints concerning possible changes in the GRA working groups.

More information will follow.