Food Forward NDCs (2026)

A new review of NDCs 3.0 signals a turning point for agrifood systems

Climate Focus and WWF have just published an updated review of the latest round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs 3.0), which reveals real momentum on agrifood systems within national climate plans — alongside a clear message that ambition and implementation now need to catch up.

Key messages

• Nature-positive production is gaining ground. The clearest gains are on the production side. Roughly 88% of countries now give priority to sustainable agriculture, healthy soils and climate-smart farming practices — approaches that cut emissions while helping ecosystems recover. Forests, wetlands and marine environments continue to receive strong attention, a sign that governments increasingly see food production, biodiversity and resilience as parts of the same picture rather than separate issues.
• References to storage, processing and transport have also grown substantially compared with previous NDC cycles, pointing to a sharper focus on efficiency and resilience across the system. Mentions of food loss and waste are climbing too. The shift is still early-stage, but it marks a meaningful move toward more resource-efficient food systems.
• A growing number of NDCs now explicitly name Indigenous Peoples, local communities and smallholder farmers as central to climate-resilient food systems, not an afterthought. That’s a meaningful change — and it reflects a broader recognition that climate action only works on the ground if it’s genuinely inclusive.
• The picture isn’t uniform, though. Plans still skew heavily toward production, while sustainable diets, nutrition and food waste reduction remain underrepresented, showing up in only a fraction of NDCs. Closing that gap is essential to capturing the full range of benefits food systems can deliver for climate, nature and people.

What needs to happen next

Sustaining this progress will require scaled-up finance and tighter alignment between climate plans and the broader biodiversity and adaptation agenda. NDCs 3.0 show that food systems are increasingly recognised as central to climate action.

• Go beyond production. Build NDCs around a full food systems approach — covering production, supply chains, diets, and food loss and waste — to capture climate, nature and health gains together.
• Direct finance where it’s needed most. Scale up targeted finance and incentives for nature-positive food systems, increase support for farmers and vulnerable communities, draw in private investment, and make sure technologies and solutions are affordable, accessible and locally relevant.
• Back equity with real commitments. Move beyond recognition to action — giving Indigenous Peoples, local communities and smallholders defined roles, genuine decision-making power, and dedicated support.
• Connect the dots across plans. Align NDCs with national biodiversity strategies (NBSAPs) and adaptation plans, supported by stronger coordination, robust monitoring and accessible data to track progress and maximise shared benefits.