The Riyadh COP16 of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) marked a historic milestone as the largest-ever gathering of UNCCD’s 197 Parties and the first to be held in the Middle East. Hosted from December 2-13, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this landmark event drew world leaders, policymakers, scientists, and environmental advocates to confront urgent challenges related to desertification, land degradation, and drought.
For Goumbook’s MENAT Regenerative Agriculture Initiative, COP16 provided a pivotal platform to promote regenerative agriculture as a nature-based solution to restore degraded lands, build food security, and enhance climate resilience across the Middle East and beyond. Through co-hosted sessions, thought leadership, and key partnerships, Goumbook spotlighted the role of regenerative agriculture in land restoration & combatting desertification.
The Call for Action: Why Regenerative Agriculture Matters
The global context for action is urgent. Annually, 100 million hectares of land degrade, while desertification affects 3.2 billion people globally. With a 29% increase in drought frequency since 2000 and the loss of 20% of global agricultural land to degradation, it’s clear that conventional approaches are no longer sufficient. Land restoration could store 3 billion tons of carbon annually, making it a powerful tool to combat climate change.
Against this backdrop, the MENAT region faces unique challenges. Water scarcity, arid climates, and fragile ecosystems amplify the risks of land degradation. COP16’s focus on sustainable land stewardship was an opportunity to champion regenerative agriculture as a solution tailored to the region’s realities. By showcasing the people and projects working on ecosystem restoration, Goumbook’s MENAT Regenerative Agriculture Initiative aimed to inspire action and mobilize resources for a greener future.
The Riyadh Action Agenda: A People-Centered Approach At the heart of COP16’s ambition was the Riyadh Action Agenda (RAA), a framework launched under the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s COP16 presidency. This agenda emphasized the role of people and communities on the frontlines of land degradation—including Indigenous Peoples, farmers, women, and youth—as key solution providers.
The RAA’s core areas of focus included:
- Land Restoration: Halting and reversing degradation to achieve land degradation neutrality (LDN) by 2030.
- Drought Resilience: Enhancing water system resilience to protect at least 30% of lands and inland waters.
- Sustainable Agri-Food Systems: Promoting regenerative agricultural practices to restore 250 million hectares of degraded agricultural land by 2030.
The RAA’s “Enablers”—governance, finance, and science, technology, and innovation—aim to overcome systemic barriers and create pathways for communities and stakeholders to engage in land restoration and sustainable land use.
Goumbook’s Participation at COP16: Key Events and Milestones The MENAT Regenerative Agriculture Initiative played an active role in COP16’s agenda, co-hosting and contributing to multiple high-impact sessions. Key highlights included:
- Private Sector Country Roadmaps (December 3, 2024)
Theme: Leveraging Philanthropic and Private Sector Resources for Food Systems Transformation
Partners:Goumbook, Community Jameel, UN Global Compact Network Saudi Arabia, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).
This session explored opportunities for private sector actors to drive food systems transformation through investments in sustainable agriculture, regenerative practices, and innovation.
2. Harvesting Hope: Sustainable Desert Farming in Drylands (December 5, 2024)
Hosted by ICARDA; International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas
This panel featured experts from KAUST, FAO, and Goumbook’s MENAT Initiative, including Samantha Kayruz, who emphasized the critical role of empowering young researchers and fostering cross-sector collaboration. Discussions highlighted solutions for water management, desert farming, and climate-resilient agriculture in drylands.
- From Science to Soil: Mobilizing Regenerative Agriculture Research Solutions (December 9, 2024)
Hosted by the MENAT Regenerative Agriculture Initiative and the League of Arab States
This side event spotlighted the importance of connecting researchers, farmers, and businesses to accelerate the adoption of regenerative practices. Key takeaways included the need for high-tech and low-tech solutions, fostering legitimacy between farmers and researchers, andleveraging finance for nature-based solutions. The session underscored that scaling regenerative agriculture requires collaboration, social capital, and investment in local capacity building.
Key Takeaways and Insights Goumbook’s participation at COP16 reinforced the importance of bridging research, policy, and practice to scale regenerative agriculture in the MENAT region. Key insights from the event include:
- Bridging Research, Farmers, and Business: Researchers must connect with farmers and businesses to co-design sustainable, scalable solutions. This approach builds trust and increases adoption of regenerative practices.
- Balancing High-Tech and Low-Tech Solutions: While high-tech methods like controlled-environment agriculture are valuable, accessible low-tech approaches ensure broader reach and impact.
- Legitimacy in Farmer-Researcher Dialogue: Building trust with farmers is essential. Solutions rooted in traditional and generational knowledge are often more sustainable and accepted.
- Showcasing Transformative Approaches: Initiatives like SEKEM in Egypt demonstrate how regenerative practices can restore landscapes, improve soil health, and support sustainable livelihoods.
- Role of Finance: Financial institutions play a pivotal role in scaling regenerative practices. Innovative financing mechanisms—like agricultural carbon credits and resilience-linked finance—can drive systemic change.
- Investing in Social Capital: Empowering communities and promoting social buy-in are vital for mainstreaming regenerative agriculture. Redirecting subsidies to support these initiatives is a key strategy.
The Road Ahead: A Call for Collaboration The momentum from COP16 does not end with the conference’s closing session. The Riyadh Action Agenda, the lessons shared at Goumbook’s side event, and the partnerships forged at COP16 underscore the need for ongoing collaboration.
With an estimated 2 billion hectares of degraded land worldwide—expected to rise to 6 billion hectares by 2050—the stakes are higher than ever. Goumbook’s MENAT Regenerative Agriculture Initiative is committed to mobilizing stakeholders, fostering cross-sector partnerships, and scaling regenerative practices that restore ecosystems, support food security, and empower communities.
How to Get Involved If you’re inspired by the work done at COP16 and want to contribute to the regenerative agriculture movement, there are several ways to engage:
- Join the MENAT Regenerative Agriculture Initiative: Partner with Goumbook to support ongoing research, projects, and capacity-building efforts in the MENAT region.
- Collaborate on Future Events: Be part of future knowledge-sharing events and workshops focused on regenerative agriculture and sustainable land management.
- Invest in Regenerative Projects: Explore investment opportunities that drive scalable, nature-based solutions to land degradation, drought resilience, and sustainable food systems.
COP16 showcased that land is more than soil—it’s the foundation for life, livelihoods, and climate action. With initiatives like the Riyadh Action Agenda and Goumbook’s MENAT Regenerative Agriculture Initiative, the world’s focus is shifting toward holistic, people-centered solutions to reverse desertification. By working together, we can create a regenerative future for the MENAT region and beyond.
For more information on the MENAT Regenerative Agriculture Initiative visit www.MENATRegenerativeAgriculture.com , to reach out to get involved email regenagri@goumbook.com