The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), in its 6th Assessment Report, warns that South Asia could face a 30% decline in food production by 2050 due to climate change. This is particularly alarming for countries like Sri Lanka, where over 70% of the rural population relies on agriculture - a sector highly vulnerable to climate impacts. To ensure long-term food security, it is crucial to enhance productivity through sustainable and climate-friendly agricultural practices. This involves integrating adaptation measures to build resilience against climate impacts and mitigation strategies to reduce GHG emissions.

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Agriculture and food security in Sri Lanka’s climate policy landscape

Food systems are a priority sector for Sri Lanka’s climate policies, including the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the National Environment Policy (NEP), and the National Climate Change Policy and National Adaptation Plan (NAP). Notably, Sri Lanka’s NDCs under the Paris Agreement prioritize agriculture as a key sector for both adaptation and mitigation, underscoring its critical role in achieving national as well as global climate goals. Recognising this urgency, SLYCAN Trust hosted a workshop titled “Strengthening Sri Lanka’s Food Systems: A Workshop on National Policy Frameworks” on August 22, 2024. The event convened academics, government officials, and industry representatives to advance Sri Lanka’s resilience through sustainable agricultural practices.

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Policy coherence for effective climate action

National policies on climate action hold a potential, especially when aligned effectively, to create synergies that amplify their impact. Achieving relevant climate goals requires timely collaboration among all responsible stakeholders. Such cooperation can help bridge the existing gaps, facilitate cross-sectoral dialogue, and promote integrated planning to ensure that policies work harmoniously, driving meaningful progress toward climate and sustainability objectives. The table below provides a detailed breakdown of the policies and their references (Table 01).

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Exploring Sri Lanka’s national commitments 

The workshop focused on how national frameworks can drive sustainable agricultural transformation while aligning with international commitments under the Paris Agreement and the UNFCCC. Sri Lanka, a signatory of the Paris Agreement since 2015, is now implementing its NDCs submitted during the second cycle in 2021, and gearing up for the third cycle of NDCs, with an enhanced focus on climate action across priority sectors.

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Key adaptation priorities discussed included:

• Advancing sustainable land and water management in climate-vulnerable areas.
• Improving early warning systems and risk management mechanisms.
• Promoting carbon neutrality as part of mitigation efforts.

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The consultation highlighted the central role of agriculture in Sri Lanka’s climate strategy, emphasizing robust policies that ensure food security while aligning with global climate goals.

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Evidence-based research: a pathway to effective policy

The role of evidence-based research was underscored as critical for shaping impactful policies. Discussions emphasized the integration of research into policymaking to bridge gaps between high-level commitments and grassroots action. Key suggestions included:

• Identifying technology gaps and developing scalable solutions for climate-smart agriculture.
• Enhancing collaboration between academia, industries, and other stakeholders to align research with practical needs.
• Establishing accessible platforms and databases to facilitate informed decision-making.
• Advancing water-saving techniques, improved irrigation, and soil conservation strategies.

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Universities were identified as pivotal actors in promoting climate-smart technologies and educating farmers on sustainable practices.

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Thematic focus areas

The discussions delved into addressing the research and development needs crucial for achieving Sri Lanka's NDCs in the agricultural sector. Several key themes emerged, underscoring the importance of overcoming challenges, fostering innovation, and strengthening collaboration between academia, industry, and government. These themes not only highlighted the pressing need for actionable solutions but also paved the way for innovative strategies to transform Sri Lanka’s agricultural systems in alignment with its climate commitments.

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Renewable energy in agriculture

• Establish data collection and monitoring systems to address operational issues in solar and wind energy systems, including the over 10,000 solar water pumps.
• Pilot wind, solar, and hybrid energy systems for agricultural use to evaluate feasibility without needing detailed resource mapping.
• Collaborate with universities to accurately estimate methane emissions and identify optimal locations for bio-gas generation to meet NDC targets.
• Address inefficiencies in solar water heaters, air heaters, and bio-gas systems, and develop a comprehensive guide for enhancing solar drying technology.
• Promote mini-grids as a regional low-carbon energy solution despite current NDC limitations, laying the groundwork for future energy advancements.

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Value addition and product development

• Establish data collection and monitoring systems to address operational issues in solar and wind energy systems, including the over 10,000 solar water pumps.
• Pilot wind, solar, and hybrid energy systems for agricultural use to evaluate feasibility without needing detailed resource mapping.
• Collaborate with universities to accurately estimate methane emissions and identify optimal locations for bio-gas generation to meet NDC targets.
• Address inefficiencies in solar water heaters, air heaters, and bio-gas systems, and develop a comprehensive guide for enhancing solar drying technology.
• Promote mini-grids as a regional low-carbon energy solution despite current NDC limitations, laying the groundwork for future energy advancements.

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Risk management and innovation 

• Improve accessibility to climate and agricultural information for researchers and farmers.
• Provide incentives and financial tools to encourage the adoption of climate-smart technologies.
• Develop simplified models for crop production simulation to make them more accessible to farmers.
• Increase involvement of academia in agricultural climate research to support innovation and practical solutions.
• Create a user-friendly platform (such as mobile SMS services) for data sharing and access to facilitate better decision-making in agricultural activities.
• Integrate effective pest control measures to protect stored products, reduce losses, and maintain product quality throughout the supply chain.
• Support the development and enhancement of seed types for underutilized plant-based protein crops to increase their yield, resilience, and nutritional value.
• Promote crop diversification with heat- and drought-tolerant species and explore third-season cultivation to improve resilience and productivity.

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Water and soil management

• Develop advanced water management strategies, including catchment-based models and automatic measurement systems, to address rainfall variability and water pollution.
• Implement legal measures for soil conservation, establish comprehensive soil databases, and promote rainwater harvesting techniques for improved water utilization.
• Enhance farmer awareness and adoption of sustainable practices through climate resilience projects and practical, economically feasible technologies.
• Expand ongoing initiatives like tree planting and irrigation projects while integrating innovative technologies for agricultural modernization.
• Improve agricultural infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events, ensuring that farming systems remain resilient, productive, and capable of adapting to climate change impacts.

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Closing reflections: The path forward

The event concluded with reflections on the importance of high-level collaboration between academia, government, and the private sector. Participants stressed the need for accessible platforms to share research findings and practical applications that address Sri Lanka’s unique challenges.

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This workshop, organized under the EthicalX: Climate & Innovation Hub, SLYCAN Trust’s initiative on ethical, sustainable and climate-friendly entrepreneurship, highlighted the power of collective action in shaping policy frameworks. By aligning food systems with broader climate goals, Sri Lanka can pave the way for a resilient, sustainable food system that supports national and global environmental objectives.

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