The global grain system is collapsed due to the pressure of climate change and growing.To prevent it from disintegrating, we must use distributed renewable energy solutions, which is essential for reducing the emissions of greenhouse gas (GHG), increasing toughness and productivity, and reducing costs.If this cannot be done, it will endanger the efforts of the United Nations Sustainable Development Objective (SDG) and threaten our survival.

There is still a half of the last period of 2030. As "the common blueprint for peace and prosperity of humans and the earth", the progress of SDG is significantly lagging behind.In July, the UN sustainable development of high -level political forums held in New York, and the UN Grain System Summit+2 inventory at the United Nations in Rome, emphasized to ensure that modern energy (SDG 7) and achieve zero hunger (SDG 2) respectively.importance.

In terms of strengthening the long -term toughness and adaptability of the global grain system, these two goals are interrelated.In view of the rapid global warming, population growth, public health crisis, turbulence and conflict of energy market exposure to the unique vulnerability and defects of the grain system, it has transformed it into a public policy and has new urgency.

The past solutions and practices will no longer be valid; on the contrary, they have promoted the current problems.Previously, concerns about food supply, including high prices during the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, always caused agricultural intensive and mechanized, as well as increased land use.As a result, agricultural enterprises (including food production, transportation and storage) account for about one -third of all greenhouse gas emissions today.This in turn threatens the future of agriculture.

The impact of climate change spreads throughout the global grain system, but people with the least responsibility for this problem, that is, small farmers in the south of the world, do not bear these influence proportional.For example, the southern African region that relies on rain and agriculture has undergone one -third of the world's drought and is easily affected by high temperature and other extreme weather.The International Monetary Fund found that a drought can reduce the potential of medium -term economic growth in African countries and reduce a percentage point.

This conclusion reflects the core role of agriculture in developing countries: In some of the most underdeveloped countries, agriculture accounts for more than 25%of GDP (GDP), while 52%of Southara Southern Africa is engaged in agriculture in agricultureWork.In view of this, the achievement of sustainable and friendly food in the south of the world can significantly improve benefits.This requires steering distributed renewable energy.This energy can be used for primary production, post -harvest processing, storage, and cooking, and these are agricultural activities that often consume the most energy sources in developing countries.

Of course, decentralized renewable energy is not a pitch.However, it can reduce energy costs (this is a key factor in improving productivity), financing and application of production applications (which can popularize production and increase technology), and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve climate change adaptability to stabilize the global grain system.contribute.Finally, reducing dependence on fossil fuel and decentralization of energy production will help change the global power dynamics in the grain system.

For example, solar irrigation has significantly improved water supply, achieved seasonal planting, improves productivity, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.The solar pump has increased the income of Indian farmers by more than 50%and increased the agricultural volume of Rwanda.Ethiopia irrigation and low -ground parts, who are one of the authors in this article, have recently banned imported diesel irrigation pumps to support rapid transformation of renewable energy solutions.

In southern Sahara Africa, solar grinders can grind the grain into flour more efficient, more affordable, and continuously.In addition, expanding the microscopic grid and supplying the operation of operation after harvest can enable the community to preserve agricultural products locally and bring more economic and environmental benefits.

Refrigeration and freezing are critical to extend the shelf life, reduce food losses, and maintain product quality.A distributed refrigeration solution with renewable energy -driven energy can improve the market access of small farmers and remote communities and reduce the deterioration of agricultural products.By converting existing infrastructure into renewable energy, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make the cold chain more environmentally friendly and more economical.

All the above examples show the diverse application of distributed renewable energy, each solution helps to establish a more tough, sustainable and friendly grain system.By expanding these innovations, we can solve the energy challenges faced by small farmers, processors and consumers while reducing carbon footprints.

To strengthen the structure of the global grain system, a new framework aims to reduce land use, improve productivity, maximize grain loss, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.Renewable energy must be the foundation.Otherwise, developing countries will not be able to improve agricultural output and eliminate hunger, stop and reverse environmental degradation, or achieve democratization of energy acquisition.

Author Kristina Skierka is

Non -profit organizations that promote decentralized renewable energy solutions

"Power for ALL" CEO

AISHA MOHAMMED MSSA is

Ethiopia irrigation and low -ground ministers

English Original Title: The Key to Sustainable Food Systems

All rights reserved: Project syndicate, 2023.