Developing countries recognize the urgent need to adapt agrifood systems to climate change, but most National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) are struggling to address key risks or protect vulnerable groups due to severe financing and capacity gaps, according to a landmark report released on Tuesday by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The report, titled “Agrifood Systems in National Adaptation Plans, An analysis,“ was published during the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil. It is the first comprehensive study of its kind to examine the agrifood component of NAPs — key frameworks that help countries, especially least developed nations, reduce climate vulnerability and integrate adaptation across sectors and communities. NAPs also play a vital role in mobilizing finance for national priorities.
Based on original analysis by FAO and UNDP of NAPs in 64 developing countries, the report closes critical knowledge gaps on how agrifood systems are addressed in climate strategies, examining risks, priority actions, financing needs, implementation barriers, monitoring, gender equality, and loss and damage.
The report finds that agrifood systems are universal priorities in the NAPs, with countries making concerted efforts to prioritize adaptation actions across the main agricultural subsectors (crops, livestock, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture).
However, gaps and barriers in terms of turning the plans into concrete action remain. The report finds that agrifood systems account for more than half of adaptation finance needs in developing countries, yet receive only 20% of global adaptation funding — or just 1% of total climate finance.
“This analysis sends a clear message: countries know agrifood systems are the first line of defense against climate extremes, but they’re still not getting the support they need. The groundwork is there; now we need to close the finance and capacity gaps to turn those plans into real protection for food security and livelihoods,” said Kaveh Zahedi, Director of FAO’s Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment.
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Key findings
- Agrifood systems are a top priority in all developing countries’ NAPs, with 97% reporting climate-related impacts on crops, livestock, forests, fisheries, aquaculture, value chains, and food security.
- Adaptation actions don’t match the risks: Only 16% of agrifood adaptation measures directly address those climate impacts, and just 14% target the needs of vulnerable populations, such as women, Indigenous Peoples, youth, smallholder farmers and others.
- Evidence-based planning for agrifood system priorities remains limited: Only one-third of NAPs use climate risk and vulnerability assessments, and fewer than half apply robust adaptation appraisal and prioritization methods.
- Implementation faces persistent barriers: Nearly half of countries report limited technical capacity, weak coordination, insufficient finance, and difficulties engaging the private sector.
- Finance falls short: While agrifood systems require 54% of adaptation finance overall, they receive only 20% of adaptation funds.
- Loss and damage are already evident: Nearly half of NAPs report losses and damage in agrifood systems – more frequently than any other sector – highlighting the limits to adaptation.
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This article was originally published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and is republished here as part of our editorial collaboration with the FAO.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of Impakter.com — Cover Photo Credit: Tom Fisk.
