COP17 side event highlights financing opportunities for biodiversity-friendly food systems

Yerevan, 29 October 2026 – Government representatives, United Nations agencies and international financial institutions met at the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP17) in Yerevan to examine how countries can better align food systems policies and financing with biodiversity commitments.

The high-level side event, “Food Systems for Biodiversity: Mobilizing Finance and Strengthening Policy Coherence for KMGBF Implementation,” was jointly organized by the Government of Armenia, United Nations Armenia, the Joint SDG Fund, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub.

Food production depends on healthy soils, water, pollinators and functioning ecosystems, yet agricultural practices place considerable pressure on the environment. Addressing these pressures requires closer coordination among agricultural, environmental and financial policies, alongside investment that supports sustainable production and rural livelihoods.

“We need to redirect finance so that producing food sustainably while protecting biodiversity makes economic sense for farmers.” said Susan Gardner, Director of the Ecosystems Division at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The event focused on advancing the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), particularly Target 10 on sustainable agriculture and other productive sectors, Target 14 on integrating biodiversity into national policies and planning, and Targets 18 and 19 on reforming incentives and mobilizing biodiversity finance. Discussions also considered how joint UN support and catalytic funding can help countries align national priorities, prepare investments, and attract additional financing. Participants included representatives of governments, UN partners and international financing institutions, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Country experiences from Armenia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Colombia and Bolivia illustrated how these priorities can be addressed in practice. In Armenia, the Joint SDG Fund-supported programme “Unlocking Sustainable Finance for Nutrition-Sensitive, Climate-Smart Food Systems Transformation in Armenia” is helping strengthen policy coherence across food systems, promote sustainable agricultural value chains and seed systems, and improve access to finance for agricultural enterprises. The programme is also developing an innovative financing mechanism for the dairy sector that links investment to measurable economic and environmental outcomes.

“Armenia’s experience has shown that bringing together agriculture, biodiversity, climate and water stakeholders around a shared agenda creates the foundation for lasting change,” said Arman Khojoyan, Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Economy and National Food Systems Convenor.

“In Armenia, the Joint Programme represents a strong example of the One UN approach, bringing together FAO, UNDP and UNEP in support of national priorities. The innovation is not a single project, but the ecosystem it creates: one that brings together stronger policy coherence, agricultural innovation, and innovative financing mechanisms to make biodiversity an integral part of sustainable food systems transformation,” said Raimund Jehle, Deputy Regional Representative (REU) and FAO Representative for Armenia.

Experiences from Indonesia, Colombia and Bolivia informed discussions on financing instruments, sustainable agricultural practices and investment in value chains that support biodiversity and local livelihoods. Participants considered how guarantees, insurance and blended finance can help mobilize public and private investment and expand these approaches.

“In Bolivia, support for Indigenous groups is helping translate biodiversity knowledge into investable opportunities,” said Jack Rossiter, Senior Global Technical Specialist for Environment and Climate at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

“Financing is rarely the starting point,” said Lara Blanco, Deputy Director of the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, in a video message to the event. “Countries need aligned priorities, credible institutions and a clear understanding of what is holding investment back. The Food Systems Window of the Joint SDG Fund helps strengthen investment readiness and build the partnerships needed to attract larger public, private and blended finance.” Speaking from the MDB perspective, Jack Rossiter echoed this sentiment, noting that, “The Joint SDG Fund lays the groundwork; development finance scales it. By convening stakeholders, strengthening producer organizations, and building investment-ready pipelines, it turns catalytic resources into much larger financing opportunities."