The 4 ‰ Initiative :

Soils for Food security and Climate

Is healthy soil the solution to global warming ?

ITPS– March 16th

Where do we come from ?

COP 21 & Lima-Paris Action Agenda⇒ One of the pillars of the Paris agreement : the agenda of

solutions (LPAA)

⇒ Commitments on climate action by diverse stakeholders to

support the ambitious + 1,5°C target

⇒ 70 coalitions representing 10 000 partners covering 12

themes : transports, finance, renewable energies…

⇒ 6 initiatives on agriculture selected by a quartet (UNGS,

UNCCC, Peru, France) :

4 pour 1000 : soils for food security and climate (France)

Blue growth initiative (FAO)

Adaptation for smallholder agriculture programme (FIDA)

Agroecology transition in West Africa (CEDEAO)

Life beef carbon (UE producers' organisations)

Save food (FAO)

What is

« The 4‰ initiative :

Soils for food security and climate » ?

=> A multi-stakeholder Initiative launched by France with the

support of FAO

=> A declaration signed by 150 organisations, in the

framework of SDG & responsible governance of land tenure

=> 1 objective : increase soil fertility thanks to carbon

sequestration in soils

=> 3 major outcomes:

- Ensure food security

- Adapt agriculture to climate change

- Mitigate GHG emissions

What is the 4‰ target ?

Increasing soil organic carbon : how ?

Silvopastoral Systems in tropical

regions :

Zaï holes in dry Lands :

Conservation agriculture :

Agroecology, agroforestry… → Solutions do exist !

Anti-erosive structures :

1 / A multi-partner platform involving all

stakeholders in order to foster actions increasing

organic carbon in agricultural soils

2 / An international research and scientificcooperation programme fueling a web-basedResource center on soil carbon

...and a cross-cutting challenge : promoting theinitiative

The 4‰ initiative :

2 main pillars to be created

=> A web-based platform where members of the initiative

can :

Identify and promote agricultural practices at local level

Design and encourage training and outreach programs

Design, promote and fund projects in order to restore, improve

and/or preserve carbon stocks in soils

Promote the development and implementation of public

policies and appropriate tools

Develop supply chains of soil-friendly agricultural products...

=> Workshops at international and regional levels on key

initiative issues

A multi-partner platform

involving all stakeholders

Fostering action increasing soil organic carbon and soil fertility

=> Projects elaborated by members of the initiative recognized andpromoted as « 4‰ projects » if :

Compliance with a framework established in coherence with theprinciples of the initiative

Positive assessment of the project by a scientific and technicalcommittee

=> Actions relevant for international commitments as regards :

Climate change (UNFCCC – LPAA)

Desertification (UNCCD)

Food security (SDGs)

An international Scientific cooperation programme & Resource center

4 complementary research themes :

=> mechanisms and assessments of the potential for carbon storage in soils across regions and systems

=> assessment of best farming practices for soil carbon and their impact on other greenhouse gases, on food security

=> innovation : support and dissemination

=> monitoring and estimating variations in soils carbon stock, especially at farmers level

Where are we now ?

Official launch during the COP 21 (December 1st, 2015)

>150 members supporting the declaration of intention

Next steps :

establishing the governance of the initiative

delivering for COP 22

Official launch at the COP 21

The initiative was officially launched in December at the COP21

It debuted with the official backing of more than 100 State and non-State actors

Members of the initiative

States : Germany, Ireland, Australia, New-Zealand, Ethiopia,

Costa-Rica, Mexico, Uruguay, Iran, Japan, Morocco…

Regional / International organisations : World bank,

FAO, GEF, CEDEAO, NEPAD...

Research : CGIAR, INRA, CIRAD, World Resources

Institute…

Producer organisations : IFOAM, CNIEL (FR), Interbev

(FR), Fruit south Africa...

Civil society : BAIF development research foundation,

AgriSud, CARI, organic consumers association, Regenerationinternational, center for food safety…

Private sector : Foundations (Prince Charles, Avril,Carasso...), Companies (InVivo, Elephant vert…), Funds(Livelihoods,…)

Next step : setting and inclusive and

transparent governance

=> An informal consortium of members agreeing on a convention setting the principles of the initiative and its governance based on 3 bodies :

a Forum of the members a light Secretariat a Scientific and Technical Committee

=> 1st meeting of the Forum before summer to adopt theconvention, launch the Secretariat and STC and adoptthe roadmap for 2016 - 2017

=> First deliverables to be presented at COP 22 inMorocco

4‰ initiative : Who can join ?

=> Governments and local authorities => support the

transition of agricultural systems : training, regulations, tools

=> Donors and private entities => support development

projects

=> International research => take part in the research

programme

=> NGOs=> identify, adapt and facilitate the dissemination of

good practices and ensure that they meet expectations

=> Private companies => eliminate from the supply chains

products not compatible with the objectives

=> Farmers' organizations=> encourage the adoption of

new practices to store a larger amount of carbon in soils

4‰ initiative : what can I do ?

NOW

=> Register your commitment on http://4p1000.org/ and

support the « 4‰ initiative – soils for food security and

climate».

=> Invite other organizations and stakeholders to take action

and join the Initiative

IN NEAR FUTURE

=> Provide support to the creation of the secretariat

=> Take part in the first forum of members

=> Provide funds to projects showcased by the initiative

=> Initiate / Take part to research activities on Soils carbon

=> Fuel the centre of resources with data, results...

Thank you for your attention !

An example of commitment : The

French agro-ecological project

Ensure transition towards production systems

economically, environmentally and socially efficient

=> A positive vision of agriculture : Combination of

economic and environmental performance

=> Soils are a key factor : improve quantity of organic

matters in soils through local adaptated practices

=> A methodology : mobilize all the stakeholders :

A steering committee => gathering all partners

A comprehensive action plan co-built with partners:

training, research and developement…