RESOURCE
Global context – the conundrum
Food and agriculture systems are essential for humanity, providing nutrition, fibre, and fuel while supporting the livelihoods of over 4 billion people.
These systems are deeply connected to our cultures, histories, and societies, yet they are under threat.
About one-third of agricultural land is degraded, impacting 1.5 billion people. Each year, 17 billion tonnes of cropland and 36 billion tonnes of topsoil are lost, costing US$300 billion in agricultural production and threatening food security.
Western Australian soils are vulnerable to some form of land degradation, with most intrinsically susceptible to wind and water erosion, acidification and salinisation, waterlogging, compaction, and soil water repellence.
Under current cropping regimes, soils with low pH buffering capacity are becoming more acidic. Extensive surveys of soil pH profiles across the south-west show that more than 70 percent of surface soils and almost half of subsurface soils are below appropriate pH levels (DPIRD, 2017). Others are more prone to wind erosion and compaction, while others have become too salty through rising water tables.
At present, one million hectares of agricultural land in the south-west of WA is severely affected by salt (DPIRD, 2021). More recently, Ma et al. (2022) demonstrated that the loss of potassium from leaching and crop removal in soils in the south-west of WA was leading to a long-term reduction in the amount of plant-available potassium, negatively affecting both profitability and sustainability.
To address this, we must work towards the global goal of restoring 1.5 billion hectares of land by 2030, including 250 million hectares of degraded agricultural land.
This will require investments of at least US$260 billion annually to reduce food and agriculture system emissions by 2030.
While the cost of transition is significant, the cost of inaction—about US$10 trillion per year, or 10% of global GDP—is far greater.
Restoring land and transforming food systems presents a unique opportunity to address environmental challenges, nourish people, boost rural economies, and enhance resilience.
COP16 in Riyadh – A real milestone for land restoration
Returning from the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP16 in Riyadh, I feel inspired and motivated by the conversations and shared knowledge on how we can address the growing challenges facing agriculture, land restoration, and food security.
This unique opportunity to engage with global leaders and gain valuable insights is especially relevant for Western Australia WA, where the Southwest of the state is experiencing a drying climate, and agriculture is vital to our economy and communities.
With the support of the Meridian Institute, the UNCCD Presidency and Secretariat and Ambition Loop, I had the privilege to participate in COP16 through my role at Perth NRM, RegenWA and on the WA Landcare Committee.
I was part group of 14 Frontline Leaders representing Indigenous Peoples, family farmers, local communities, women, and youth leaders invited to contribute to discussions and share insights on the challenges and solutions we are working on at the local level.
I was invited to speak on two panels during my time at COP16:
Here, I was asked specifically about Perth NRM’s Natural Capital Accounting project and how it can be used to measure and monitor on-farm natural capital condition to make informed decisions about soil health.
Closing remarks underscored the necessity of inclusive co-creation and peer exchange to demonstrate the benefits of soil health to production.
Knowledge is key, and effective communication is essential for overcoming adoption barriers.
The call to action was to create a culture that encourages learning and open communication, which is instrumental in the widespread implementation of sustainable practices and meaningful soil and land restoration.
This event was hosted by IUCN and Regen10, who were deeply involved in events and dialogue throughout the duration of COP16.
Here I had the opportunity to share RegenWA’s bread and butter, what activities we undertake to support Western Australian farmers to implement regenerative practices that support soil health.
My key message was that farmers in Western Australia are aware of land degradation issues, as we have such a brittle environment with highly weathered, ancient soils.
Despite this, our current farming systems support highly successful production, however with a heavy reliance on external inputs and less focus on supporting the biological function of soils.
There are many great examples of farmers in WA who are restoring this function to support production and the environment, so sharing their stories is important for adoption.
However, we also have to acknowledge that transitioning to these biological systems is not easy, so farmers need support for that transition.
Launching the Riyadh Action Agenda
The UNCCD Frontline Leaders participated in the dialogue, “Enabling environment to catalyse the transformation towards sustainable, resilient and inclusive agri-food systems”.
This high-level, interactive, multi-stakeholder dialogue detailed the actions and contributions of governments, farmers, business, civil society, investors, researchers, philanthropists and others who can contribute to the UNCCD’s land degradation neutrality commitments and its global goals – helping deliver a prosperous future for all.
Here, our colleagues provided feedback, insights and expertise to help build the Riyadh Action Agenda.
The Riyadh Action Agenda is a global platform, powered by the UNCCD COP16 Presidency, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, mobilising ambitious commitments and action from state and non-state actors in support of government commitments, to restore 1.5 billion hectares of degraded land by 2030 and 250 million hectares of farmland.
Re-thinking and transforming agri-food systems will play a key role in supporting these critical global goals, creating triple wins for people, nature and the climate.
Call to Action: Collective Responsibility for Land Health and Our Health
The UNCCD COP16 reinforced the idea that the transformation toward sustainable and inclusive agri-food systems requires urgent action, collaboration, and commitment.
For WA, this means aligning with global goals like those in the Riyadh Action Agenda, but also ensuring that it’s implemented practically at a local level so our communities are resilient and able to adapt to climate challenges.
The lessons learned at COP16 provide valuable guidance for WA as we work to restore degraded lands, improve water management, and support sustainable agriculture.
Ultimately, the experience of being part of COP16 has shown me that global transformation starts with local action.
By drawing on the lessons shared at COP16 and amplifying the work already being done in WA, we can ensure that our agricultural sector remains vibrant, productive, and capable of thriving in the face of climate change.
As we move forward, it is essential that we continue to engage all stakeholders, and invest in the long-term health of our land for future generations.
Reflecting on Australia’s Impact: A Model for the World
One of the most inspiring aspects of COP16 was reflecting on the great work already being done in Australia, and in particular Western Australia with our farmers, First People, and local leaders solving problems and creating models that can be shared globally.
Many of the global discussions emphasised the importance of local solutions, and Australia’s drought resilience work was often cited as an example of how these solutions can be successfully implemented on the ground.
The work of organisations like RegenWA and other local groups that support WA farmers in adopting regenerative agricultural practices, particularly sparked interest in conversations.
Also Perth NRM’s Restoration Impact Framework Project, which embodies a collective impact approach for restoring WA’s farming landscape, stood out as an initiative that aligns with the goals of the Riyadh Action Agenda.
It was clear that initiatives like this can help direct effective funding for practical, community-driven efforts to restore degraded land, improve biodiversity, and mitigate climate change.
These local success stories were a source of inspiration for many, showing that transformation doesn’t always require reinventing the wheel but rather scaling up what’s already working.
The focus of our upcoming 2025 conference ‘Regenerative Food Systems’ closely aligns with the principles of COP16’s agri-food systems day; presenting an opportunity to delve further into Western Australia’s role in transforming our food systems through collective action.
Inclusive Decision-Making for Effective Action
Another important takeaway from COP16 is the need for inclusive decision-making.
Farmers, Indigenous communities, and youth must be part of the conversations around land restoration and food system transformation.
As a Frontline Leader, I saw firsthand how vital it is to ensure that those who are most affected by land degradation and climate change have a seat at the table.
Their voices provide critical insights into the practical challenges and solutions that will drive successful transformation.
For WA, this means engaging more deeply with local communities to ensure that policies and programs align with their needs and aspirations.
We need to involve farmers, Indigenous groups, youth and other stakeholders in the development of policies that are not only environmentally sustainable but also socially inclusive.
Summary takeaway message:
“What I have come away with from this COP16 is an understanding of the many synergies that are present in this space. Everyone agrees that we depend on land for our survival, so there needs to be a collective responsibility to ensure we transform our food systems into more regenerative ones that support ecosystem services, and the responsibility and onus shouldn’t just be on farmers. We must ensure farmers alongside Indigenous communities are included at the decision-making tables so that we can have clear, genuine and effective action, with appropriate policies and financing the key to unlock scaling-up. We don’t need to re-invent the wheel as there are already great examples of land restoration out there. We need to work together to amplify those efforts and showcase them as demonstrations for shared learning.”
“Around 58% of Australia is farmland, so it is critical we work with farmers to conserve native animals, plants and other important resources,”
Dr Jim Radford from the Research Centre for Future Landscapes at La Trobe University
