On December 1st, Friday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the Biden administration will allocate an additional $50 million to support climate-adapted crops and soils through a United Nations agricultural investment fund. Blinken, who is part of a prominent U.S. delegation attending United Nations climate talks in Dubai, emphasized the importance of this funding in addressing global food challenges.
During a conference address, Blinken stated, “This is not just about sustaining life but enabling flourishing, providing countries with sustainable and productive capacity.” The State Department highlighted projections indicating a 50 percent surge in global food demand over the next 25 years. However, the impact of climate change could potentially diminish crop yields by up to 30 percent during the same period.
The financial injection into the International Fund for Agricultural Development’s Rural Resilience Program, Blinken explained, aims to mitigate these challenges. The funding will elevate the U.S. contribution to the program’s “Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils” to $150 million for the current year. It’s important to note, however, that the State Department mentioned in a statement that the disbursement is contingent upon “congressional notification and availability of funds.”
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