Ep 37 | Emily Rees on Agricultural Innovation and Sustainable Food Systems

Another exciting episode with Emily Rees, President and CEO of CropLife International, who speaks to us about agricultural innovation and sustainable food systems, and the linkages to food security and climate change. During the interview, Emily also touches on gender disparity in agriculture, highlighting the importance of bridging the gap to education as one of the key factors to narrow the disparity.

Transcript

[00:19] Duke Hipp: Hi again, everybody. Welcome to Asia's farm to fork five Good Questions podcast. And we're excited about another great guest with us today. We have with us Miss Emily Rees. She's the president and CEO of CropLife International. Hi, Emily.

[00:31] Emily Rees: Hi, Duke. It's great to be with you.

[00:34] Duke: Excellent. Thank you for doing this and excited about the interview today. Well, if it's okay, we'll start with the first question. And I know it's one that touches on a topic that's near and dear to your heart. That's agricultural innovation, specifically the role that it's playing right now in driving sustainable food systems around the world. CropLife International has been leading in this area and weighing in on a host of forms and platforms in recent months around this hot topic. 

There's certainly greater societal awareness from the impact food production's having on the world around us, but at the same time, perhaps a lack of understanding and appreciation the role agricultural technology is having in being part of the solution. Can you share if it's okay, Emily, a bit about, again, the work that CropLife International is leading and how you're advocating on this topic right now.

[01:18] Emily: Sure, Duke, I mean, a very complex question there, but I think while there's frequently an acknowledgement that agriculture has an impact, there's less often an awareness that agriculture can also be part of the solution. 

But we've seen that changing more recently, especially in places like COP 28, where the Emirates declaration that was endorsed by over 150 countries recognized the potential for the agriculture sector to drive transformative change, with agricultural innovation being recognized as a key enabler for improving food security, mitigating environmental impacts, and enhancing productivity. And so we're also seeing this in other arena, such as in the G20, where we've seen the creation of a B20 sustainable food systems and agriculture task force. And we at CropLife International were so proud to be co-chair of that task force. But that also demonstrates the commitment that these governments are giving to developing public policies to enable these sustained, inclusive solutions - today's most pressing challenges. 

So, not addressing agriculture and food systems means not addressing food security in my book. And so more and more, we're going to see agricultural productivity linked to innovation linked to climate resiliency, and with trade being that key enabler, in terms of the policies. 

This is also what we more recently saw in Abu Dhabi at the 13th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, which, despite not reaching strong conclusions for agriculture, we really felt that agricultural discussions were all around that conference, and no doubt will be pursued in Geneva as we move into the next negotiating cycle.

[03:26] Duke: Yeah, well, I appreciate that. No, I think you're right. Understanding the role that, or the impact agriculture has on this sustainability, but how, and also be part of the solution through agricultural innovation as well. It's a very good point. 

So I like to pivot, if it's okay, to something we were just talking about very recently. Just last month, the world recognized International Women's Day, and CropLife International, I'm sure, as you recall, did a month-long campaign, really to shine a bright light on the many contributions that women have made to agricultural science and innovation. And it's an important topic, these topics of agriculture and food production. 

Women and girls represent half of the world's population, but specifically within the science, technology, engineering and mathematics or STEM disciplines, there's a gender gap that exists, certainly. So where you sit in your role in CropLife International, what are some of the challenges or obstacles that prevent women from being part of the science and innovation sector? Is there more we can and should be doing?

[04:23] Emily: Well, Duke, first, a recognition, that the challenges, the obstacles preventing women from full participation in science and innovation are greatly multifaceted. So they require concerted efforts to address. And I think that's also what our campaign was highlighting. 

Traditional gender roles and societal expectation often discourage girls and women not only from pursuing STEM fields, but also from being able to access innovative technologies. So in many countries, the number of women, for instance, that are relying on agri food, agricultural systems for their livelihoods far outnumbers that of men. And so what we're looking at is a system in which a strong share of women is reliant on agriculture for their livelihoods, and however, whose access to land, to inputs, to services, to finance, to digital technology, which are all key in working agri food systems, continue to lag behind.

So what we've seen is, and I'm just drawing your attention to a great report by the FAO that was the status of women in agri food systems that they published last year in 2023. FAO pointed out that women are as likely as men to adopt new technologies, including improved seeds, fertilizers, mechanized equipment, amongst others, when the necessary enabling factors are put into place to allow for that equal access. And so yet, what we're seeing is that there are commonly fewer opportunities for women to receive the information on improved agriculture technologies, and that ultimately impacts their ability to adopt and use them effectively. What we're saying here is that we need to bridge that education gap.

[06:26] So that's really crucial if we are serious about narrowing gender disparities in land and labor productivity. But again, as we know that higher education and literacy are also linked to a greater technology adoption. So really, that stress, I think, for us, is on women's access to education. That's what makes a difference out in the world.

[06:53] Duke: Yeah, no, very good answer. Appreciate that. And certainly a big topic that is becoming more and more relevant in this region as well. So you've mentioned the FAO report in that context and I wanted to maybe pick up another topic we talk a lot about on this podcast and touches on the United Nations FAO as well. And it's around food security. 

Every year, as you know, the United nations issues the state of food insecurity, nutrition in the world in the SOFI report. And unfortunately, here in our region, it's not usually good news. We are sort of the number one or number two in many of the wrong categories. I think the most recent report indicated that Asia is home to more of the world's population affected by hunger than any other region. We're also home to the highest number of people who are undernourished, as well as those who are moderately to severely food insecure. 

Of course, food insecurity, hunger, malnutrition, are problems not limited to Asia, and they're not problems we can solve alone. So, CropLife International and its members are working with a wide array of stakeholders to help realize food systems that are more robust and resilient. And I know that's one of the primary topics that you're leading on through CropLife International. Maybe you can share a little bit about those efforts as well?

[08:07] Emily: Sure. I mean, again, the facts are there, right? The number of people that are facing life threatening hunger jumped by a third, to about a quarter of a billion in 2022. Supplies of staple crops are remaining tight as El Nino - this weather phenomenon - further threatens the output in key regions. 

In fact, El Nino, the southern oscillation, affects many parts of the globe, but most intensely impacts the tropics. So, including countries and areas here in Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, but also in Africa and Latin America. They are all particularly vulnerable to natural hazards. And so, in a way, you're asking the exact right question because robust and resilient systems are key. And so as the global advocate for the plant science industry, CropLife International, we challenge the innovative technologies that enable the farmers to sustainably increase productivity while managing those critical challenges facing our climate, and at the same time, the challenges that climate change places upon farmers. 

So, to a large extent, I would say that the answers here lie as much also in the trading systems as in the fields. And I'll explain that, because to address the impacts of climate change that are already being felt on food production here, but also, I just came back from Africa, where you could see it on the ground, we must safeguard and we must enhance the multilateral rules-based trading system and its reference bodies. And to do that in ways that support research and development of agricultural innovation and that give farmers worldwide the access to new technologies. So, in a way, agricultural trade for me is key to enable these functioning supply chains to advance sustainable agricultural development, because it connects farmers to markets and it's also key to safeguarding food security by bridging the growing imbalance that we find between areas of food supply and food demand. So again, multifaceted in its complexity. But if we are serious about tackling food security, we need to also be serious in terms of looking at its interlinkages with climate change.

[10:56] Duke: That's a very good point, and it pivots quite well to the next topic I wanted to raise, which is climate change, and maybe to set it up a bit. 

Here in Asia, and specifically with ASEAN, we jointly conducted a survey of policymakers in Southeast Asia just in 2022. And I guess, not surprisingly, over half of them cited managing the effects and impact of climate change as the biggest obstacle facing regional food system. Additionally, around 60% of the same policymakers also agree that farmers are really the most vulnerable to these effects and impacts. So I think, again, you touched on seeing things through the view and the vision of farmers, and specifically here in this part of the world, where it's home to the smallest sized farms and the most number of smallholders. So it's impossible to not link those two things together, the challenges that they're facing in the light of rather in the face of the growing impacts of climate change. 

So, specifically, I'd like to maybe ask you around the regulatory frameworks around supporting policies that are helping farmers, or should be helping farmers, to mitigate and adapt in this environment. Anything you can share around how we can do a better job at that, ensuring they have what they need to do their job in the face of more droughts and floods and extreme weather that we're seeing everywhere?

[12:08] Emily: Yeah, I mean, first, if we're going to be addressing the impacts of climate change that we already feel on food production, I think there's a role for governments. We need governments to create enabling legislative environments that support research and development, that support agricultural innovations, and that give farmers access to the technologies that they need in order to face the challenges of dealing with climate change. 

Again, agricultural innovations and plant science technologies provide many, many solutions that help address climate resilience. And they do so by also increasing productivity and improving food security, as I just mentioned previously. But again, if we are going to enable the farmers and food systems ultimately, to adapt and be more resilient to climate shocks and the impacts of climate change, agricultural technologies are going to need to make it from the lab to the field. 

And so what we see here is that sustainably grown crops will need to endure unpredictable weather patterns, weather extremes. What we'll also have is, in addition, a global temperature rise that gives way to new threats that are emerging, new geographical range of insects and diseases and pests that are changing. Farmers and food systems are going to need new tools and technologies to adapt to deal with these new threats and to preserve not only rural livelihoods, but also the export markets that they depend on for their livelihoods. And ultimately, that ensures the food security of the populations which are receiving those foods. 

So our industry really is committed to researching and developing technologies that support climate smart agriculture. To mitigate emissions, to increase carbon sequestration, to keep 1.5 within reach. Innovations in sea technology, for instance, like herbicide tolerance and improved weed control, have already resulted in 300 million tons of CO2 sequestration over the past 25 years. And just to give you an idea, I know it's different inside of the world, but that's the equivalent of the annual emissions of the state of California. It's massive. 

And so now, with the exciting development of genome editing, plant breeders also have the potential to develop seed varieties that can increase the efficiency of carbon capture, that can provide resistance to pests and pathogens, and even accelerate the domestication of new crop species. So this really is, I think, an exciting development that's coming in the face of an overwhelming challenge that this planet is going to have to deal with and our farmers are going to have to adapt to.

[15:15] Duke: Thank you, that is such a good point. A lot of things that I want to touch back on. You mentioned lab to the farm. That's a good way of putting it, right. All these interesting new innovations that are already beginning to tell a story. But what are we missing there for those that are not reaching the farm, they're not making it out of the lab in a timely way. Very good point. Such tough topics and tough challenges we're facing. 

The last question, the fifth question, we'd like to maybe lighten it up a little bit, but it may be the toughest question of them all. So I know you're visiting the region now, and I'd like to maybe get your thoughts on food, and maybe you've had a chance to sample some of the food here in Asia, and if you have any favorites, you like to highlight?

[15:57] Emily: Oh, Duke. Okay, so that is probably the toughest question, right? So if you're asking me to pick one of my favorite asian foods, that's just unfair. Those who know me will know that I am a serious foodie, not only at home, but also when I come out to regions like this. Ultimately, that's what got me working 20 years ago in nutritional policy, trade, and ultimately, agriculture, is my love of food. 

So in Singapore, for instance, you'll generally find me in my spare time roaming around the hawker stalls, tasting everything. So here you have such an advantage of being able to access so many beautiful foods. So, from Indonesian satay, the hokkien mee, malay, durian dishes, Peranakan specialties with keluak, so that's that delicious black nut. 

And I would say my latest discovery is kue kue in all its forms. Let me just say that. So for those who are not like me, who weren't aware of what kue was, kue is sort of a bite-sized snack made from glutinous rice, often served with ample lashings of coconut shavings, which I enjoy very much and even better when it comes with pandan. So, again, kue, I think, maybe would be up there for this visit. And it's also a flavorsome reminder of the importance of the rice in the whole Asia region. So we'll leave it on that note.

[17:35] Duke: Kue, got it. You cannot go wrong with any of those answers, but we'll put you down officially for kue. And I think we know where round two of this interview will be. We'll have to go to the hawker stall and settle it, I think, once and for all, as far as the best of them all.

[17:49] Emily: That sounds great. Looking forward.

[17:51] Duke: Thanks, Emily, for doing this. And, yeah, appreciate your perspectives on all of this. Thank you.