Climate change is increasingly showing that the climate challenge is inseparable from the food challenge. Agriculture is both highly vulnerable to climate change and a key factor in addressing it. This is why placing agriculture at the center of global climate policies and solutions is becoming not just desirable, but essential.
Changing climate conditions are already having a direct impact on food production. Extreme heat, prolonged droughts, unpredictable rainfall and more frequent climate extremes are reducing yields, degrading soil quality and increasing pressure on farmers. These impacts threaten not only the economic viability of agriculture, but also food security, particularly for small-scale producers and vulnerable regions.
At the same time, agriculture is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions through land use practices, livestock production, fertilizer use and changes in land cover. For this reason, transforming agricultural and food systems is critical. With the right approaches, agriculture can shift from being part of the problem to becoming part of the solution by enhancing carbon sequestration in soils, restoring ecosystems and managing natural resources more sustainably.
This shift is already being reflected at the international level. Within global climate processes and negotiations, agriculture is increasingly recognized as central to both climate adaptation and mitigation efforts. The focus is on practices that strengthen resilience, reduce emissions and support farmers’ livelihoods at the same time.
For this transition to succeed, coherent policies, adequate financing and access to knowledge and innovation are essential. Farmers must be supported in adapting to new climate realities, while scientific advances and technological solutions need to be implemented on the ground rather than remaining only at the level of strategies and commitments.
In the Bulgarian context, climate change is already being felt through more frequent droughts, sharp temperature fluctuations and increased risks to crop production. This makes sustainable agriculture not just a global priority, but a very real national challenge. Integrating climate objectives into agricultural policies and practices is a key condition for the long-term resilience of the sector.
Agriculture cannot remain at the margins of climate action. On the contrary, the future of the climate, food systems and rural communities depends on it. Placing agriculture at the heart of climate action is not only a necessity, but an opportunity to build a more resilient, secure and future-proof food system.
