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This briefing consists of two letters from the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) requesting nominations from Parties to fill vacancies on the Science-Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC) and the Science Advisory Committee (SAC) during the 31st meeting of the Conference of the Parties in June 2023.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) is requesting nominations from Parties to fill vacancies in the Science and Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC) and the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) ahead of the 31st Conference of the Parties in June 2023.

This policy brief analyzes the role of credit cooperatives in Brazil's rural credit system, highlighting their growth during economic instability and their function as a mechanism for financial inclusion for small and medium-sized rural producers.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) compares forest and land-use legislation across seven major agro-exporting countries: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, and the United States. The study specifically analyzes riparian Permanent Preservation Areas (APP) and biodiversity conservation policies to determine how the Brazilian Forest Code compares to international legal requirements. The findings indicate that Brazil maintains some of the most rigorous rules for private land protection, particularly regarding mandatory native vegetation reserves and riparian buffers, although the report emphasizes that effective implementation, monitoring, and enforcement are necessary for Brazil to achieve its environmental goals.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) details the role of the U.S. Farm Bill in promoting on-farm conservation practices. It examines specific conservation tools—such as cover crops, no-till operations, and intercropping—and outlines the funding and objectives of the 2014 Farm Bill's Conservation Title (Title II), including its primary programs: EQIP, ACEP, CRP, and CSP.

This executive summary evaluates the impact of Brazilian Central Bank Resolution 3,545, a 2008 policy that conditioned rural credit in the Amazon Biome on proof of environmental compliance. The study finds that the policy significantly reduced credit concessions and subsequent deforestation, particularly in cattle-ranching areas, suggesting that cattle ranchers face binding credit constraints that influence land clearing.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute evaluates the implementation of the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) from 2007 to 2013 and assesses proposed reforms for the post-2013 period. It argues that the CAP has had limited success in reducing environmental impacts and suggests that future reforms should better embrace the region's agricultural diversity and foster transboundary cooperation to protect common water bodies.

This research paper examines the politicization of rice in Southeast Asia and argues that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should strengthen existing information-sharing and reserve mechanisms to improve regional food security and market stability, rather than attempting full trade liberalization.

This report examines food security policy responses within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in the context of global food price hikes, analyzing the relationship between regional strategies, intraregional trade, and the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Program (CAADP).

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the extent and cost-effectiveness of government support for the ethanol and biodiesel industries in Australia. It analyzes various subsidies, including excise tax rebates, capital grants, and research funding, concluding that the level of assistance is high relative to other industries and often fails to deliver cost-effective greenhouse gas reductions or energy security compared to alternative policy options.

The report 'Awakening the Dead Zone' evaluates policy options to reduce agricultural nutrient runoff in the Mississippi River Basin to mitigate hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico, identifying market-based mechanisms as the most cost-effective approach.