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This discussion note, prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for the Pan African Parliament, examines the surge of foreign investment in African agricultural land and water. It highlights the risks to food security, land rights, and the environment, while outlining the legal frameworks governing these deals and the critical oversight role parliamentarians should play to ensure sustainable development.

This research paper examines the unsustainability of linear phosphorus (P) fertilizer use and proposes strategies to improve phosphorus use efficiency in agriculture to preserve finite fossil reserves and reduce environmental pollution.

This report summarizes the development of methodological tools designed to assess how climate change affects surface hydrology in the Peruvian Andes, intended as guidance for decision-makers in Peru and other nations.

This fact sheet describes research on the spatial distribution of groundwater and surface water use in Mexican agriculture. It argues that managing water resources at the municipality scale, rather than the larger river basin or aquifer scale used by the National Water Commission, is essential for identifying where demand management is required versus where water reallocations can mitigate aquifer over-exploitation.

This report documents a capacity-building workshop held in Douala, Cameroon, from May 10–12, 2011, focused on transitioning REDD+ from international negotiation to national implementation. The event, delivered by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the ASB Partnership for the Tropical Forest Margins at the World Agroforestry Centre (ASB-ICRAF), brought together over 55 participants from 17 African countries to discuss safeguards, measurement, reporting and verification (MRV), the role of agriculture as a driver of deforestation, and financing mechanisms.

This report summarizes a capacity-building workshop held in Hanoi, Vietnam, from May 18–20, 2011, focused on transitioning REDD+ from international negotiation to national implementation. The workshop, delivered by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the ASB Partnership for the Tropical Forest Margins, brought together negotiators and stakeholders from 13 Asian countries to discuss safeguards, measurement reporting and verification (MRV), the role of agriculture as a driver of deforestation, and financing mechanisms following the Cancun Agreements.

This 2010 policy report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the relationship between international trade and food security in Brazil. It concludes that while Brazil has become a major global food exporter and maintains sufficient national food availability, chronic food insecurity persists due to income inequality and poverty rather than trade-driven shortages. The report details the role of government price supports, the impact of fertilizer costs, and the transition of the Brazilian diet due to urbanization.

This synthesis report analyzes the policy responses of countries and regional organizations in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Southern Africa to the 2006–08 global food prices crisis. It assesses these responses in terms of economic sustainability and their impact on trade and regional integration, arguing that short-term emergency measures often conflicted with long-term food security and production goals.

A glossary of terms related to biofuels, focusing on definitions of fuel types, the role of corn ethanol in the United States, and the financial mechanisms and lobbying efforts surrounding ethanol production.

This fact sheet describes a project to reduce agricultural production risks for soybean farmers in Eastern Paraguay and Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, by implementing a climate-based decision support system (DSS) that utilizes seasonal forecasts and crop growth models.

This fact sheet describes a research project initiated at the end of 2008 to investigate how expanding agriculture and forestry, and the resulting land use and cover changes, impact the regional hydroclimate of the La Plata Basin and interact with climate change.

This research paper, prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) for the 2010 World Resources Report, argues that existing government practices can be harnessed to manage the risks and uncertainties of climate change. The authors propose a framework of seven adaptive policy-making practices divided into 'planned adaptability' and 'autonomous adaptability' to help policy-makers navigate complex, unpredictable socio-economic and ecological systems.

This case study examines the environmental information infrastructure supporting lentil production and conservation tillage in Canada, specifically within the Prairie region. It analyzes how information flows between farmers, researchers, and organizations to manage soil fertility and erosion, while identifying gaps between farm-level informal monitoring and national-level formal reporting.

This research paper develops and tests indicators of adaptive capacity to climate change for agriculture across 53 Census Divisions in the Canadian Prairie region. Using a framework of six determinants—economic resources, technology, infrastructure, information/skills/management, institutions/networks, and equity—the authors created an aggregated index to identify regions of high and low adaptive capacity. The study finds that adaptive capacity is strongly correlated with proximity to urban centres and highlights a significant data gap regarding surface and groundwater resources. By comparing census-based indices with field interviews, the paper concludes that while statistical indicators provide a useful spatial perspective, site-specific research is essential for designing effective adaptation policies.

This briefing describes the bioenergy, agriculture, and forestry provisions of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES, H.R. 2454). The bill proposes a cap-and-trade system to reduce nationwide greenhouse gas emissions, exempting bioenergy from renewable biomass and allowing farmers and land managers to sell carbon offsets. It also includes mandates for renewable electricity, a woodstove change-out program, and the authorization of the National Bioenergy Partnership.

This seminar report details a presentation by Dr. Emma Archer and a response by Dr. Jakkie Cilliers on climate risk impacts and adaptation in Southern Africa. The event, hosted by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Pretoria on 22 June 2009, examined the vulnerability of sectors such as agriculture, water, and health, and discussed the role of governance and urbanization in mitigating climate-induced risks.

This research paper examines the potential for climate change mitigation through land-use measures in the agriculture and forestry sectors, focusing on the challenges of integrating these sectors into international policy frameworks like the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol. It analyzes technical barriers such as permanence and leakage, the role of REDD in developing countries, and Canada's domestic approach to carbon accounting and emissions trading.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU) in climate change mitigation. It analyzes the potential for carbon sequestration in developing countries, the technical and financial obstacles to including these sectors in international agreements, and the specific policy positions and regulatory frameworks of Canada.

This report examines how farmers in the Canadian Prairie agroecosystem, specifically in Saskatchewan, adapt to increasing weather variability and climate change. Using the CRISTAL tool, the research identifies key weather stresses, their impacts on farm resources, and the coping strategies employed by producers. The findings distinguish between 'status quo' farmers and 'innovative' or 'leading' farmers, concluding that resilience is closely linked to diversification, the adoption of new technologies like zero-till farming, and a reduced dependence on government programs.

This report details insights from interviews with 40 agricultural producers and organizations in southern Alberta conducted between November 2007 and February 2008. It examines how farmers in the Coaldale and Foremost regions cope with and adapt to weather-related shocks, such as droughts and flooding, in the context of projected climate change and rising mean annual temperatures in Alberta.