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Linking Agriculture and Climate: Resources from Agrilinks and Climatelinks

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11 Dec, 2023

This post was originally published on Climate Links

Linking Agriculture and Climate: Resources from Agrilinks and Climatelinks
jschoshinski
Thu, 12/07/2023 – 20:26

Today’s COP28 program focuses on food, agriculture, and water. Climate change increases water and food scarcity, displacement, and the need for humanitarian assistance globally. Although affected by the climate crisis, agriculture may also contribute to it by emitting greenhouse gasses through excessive use of fertilizers, methane-releasing rice paddies and livestock, over-tilling of soil, and the conversion of forests and other ecosystems to agricultural uses. Climate-smart agriculture can decrease greenhouse gas emissions from the sector and build communities’ resilience to climate change. 

Addressing the climate crisis requires a holistic approach to development. USAID’s 2022-2030 Climate Strategy recognizes every USAID Mission and the sectors in which they work has a role to play in transforming global systems to address the climate crisis. The Strategy’s two main Strategic Objectives of Targeted Direct Action and Systems Change highlight how a systems approach–such as transforming food systems to be more resilient, less wasteful, and less environmentally destructive, or transitioning value chains to be less carbon-intensive–can mitigate climate change and build resilience in ways that are comprehensive, equitable, and locally led.

With this intersection between agriculture and climate change in mind, Agrilinks and Climatelinks are highlighting some resources that explore the issue in depth. Agrilinks is a hub where agriculture, food security, and development professionals can connect, share, and learn. It is part of USAID’s Feed the Future initiative and has become the go-to source for informative discussions that further resilience, food security, and poverty reduction.

Here are some climate-related resources on Agrilinks to help food security and agricultural development practitioners understand how their work intersects with climate change programming.

Cocoa Farmers in Ghana Show Strong Interest in Solar-Based Irrigation, but Pump Costs Are Often Too High

In Ghana, climate change negatively affects the production of cocoa, which is essential to the country’s economy and contributes around 30 percent of its export earnings. Cocoa farmers are willing to invest in solar-powered irrigation pumps as a climate-smart adaptation measure, but high costs and limited credit options restrict their ability to invest. Understanding these challenges can help policymakers and private sector businesses who promote climate-smart technologies design market-oriented strategies for the promotion of solar-powered irrigation pumps to Ghanaian cocoa farmers.

Site-Specific Nutrient Management for Balanced Nutrient Application and Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Rice Fields

Rice is known to be both a contributor to and a victim of climate change. As the global population increases, the demand for rice production will follow suit. Scientists are working toward the integration of climate-smart technologies into rice production to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases from rice fields and save it from the impacts of climate change. 

Norman Borlaug, the Groundnut Improvement Network for Africa and Climate Change

Decades before climate change became a threat to food security, Norman Borlaug, the Father of the Green Revolution, put shuttle breeding to work. Shuttle breeding allowed breeders around the world to evaluate new breeding lines of rice and wheat in multiple environments each year–helping address food security by allowing multiple harvests to occur in a single growing season. The Groundnut Improvement Network for Africa is now replicating that success for groundnuts on the African continent and beyond.


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These resources can help agricultural development practitioners understand how their work intersects with climate change programming.

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Sun, 12/10/2023 – 12:00

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Urban 'placemaking' focus for $85m recreation centre

Urban 'placemaking' focus for $85m recreation centre

Sydney developer Billbergia Group has announced the Rhodes Recreation Centre — an $85 million, 9200 m2 multi-purpose community hub in Sydney’s Inner West.

Located at 6 Gauthorpe St and designed by architectural firm SJB, the recreation centre is in a three-level podium building beneath two high-rise residential towers — the 48-level Peake and 43-level Oasis. Together, they form stage two of the developer’s Rhodes Central Masterplan — a $3 billion, three-stage town centre project.

The Rhodes Recreation Centre was delivered under a $97 million Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) between the developer and City of Canada Bay Council. It will be handed over to council next month and is set to open later this year. Once complete, the masterplan will have delivered 25,000 m2 of dedicated public amenity, including retail, community facilities and open space.

With the NSW Government’s housing reforms set to address the housing shortage, the recreation centre will reflect the importance of ‘placemaking’ — a collaborative approach to designing and managing public spaces that enhances community wellbeing and fosters connections between people and their environment — in planning new urban communities.

It also presents a pathway for public and private sectors to collaborate and create social infrastructure while increasing housing supply in fast-growing suburbs.

The recreation centre is set to add vibrancy and pedestrian activity to the local streetscape, providing a diverse range of facilities that enhance the livability of the evolving suburb. These community amenities include two full-sized indoor sports courts, a gymnastics centre, a 70-place childcare centre, a community lounge, allied health services, and bookable spaces for local groups and events. It also provides a gym with cardio equipment, weights, group fitness rooms, a creche and an outdoor terrace, alongside a range of sustainability features.

Facilities at the Rhodes Recreation Centre. Images supplied.

“Rhodes Recreation Centre is the community heart of our high-density TOD development, bringing to life Billbergia’s vision for a future-focused, livable urban environment that prioritises amenity, not just density,” said Saul Moran, Development Director – Planning and Design at Billbergia.

The amenities within the two residential towers include a swimming pool, spa, sauna, children’s play area, library and theatre rooms. Pedestrian connections and through-site links provide access to Rhodes railway station and the Homebush Bay waterfront.

“The Rhodes Recreation Centre stands as a benchmark in successful public–private collaboration. Through a VPA with Canada Bay Council, we’ve created a pathway to unlock additional housing supply while delivering significant, lasting community infrastructure. It’s a clear demonstration of how thoughtful public and private partnerships can shape vibrant, livable neighbourhoods,” Moran said.

Located adjacent to Rhodes railway station, stage one of Billbergia’s Rhodes Central Masterplan was completed in 2021 and included the 13,000 m2 Rhodes Central Shopping Centre, with convenience retail, a Woolworths supermarket, medical facilities and the Bamboo Lane dining precinct.

Other previous projects include the 1.2 ha Phoenix Park in Rhodes, the $63 million Bennelong Bridge, the popular Baylink Shuttle service, the 3500 m2 Wentworth Point Community Centre and Library, and the Wentworth Point Pop-Up Town Square.

Billbergia’s ongoing focus on placemaking and social infrastructure also includes the $8.4 million delivery of a library at its mixed-tenure development, Arncliffe Central, in Sydney’s south. There is the potential for 75% of Arncliffe Central’s dwellings to be dedicated to social, affordable and essential worker rental housing, along with 3400 m2 allocated to childcare, convenience retail and cafes, and a 4000 m2 park with play space for both residents and the broader community.

Top image caption: The Rhodes Recreation Centre location with two planned residential towers, Peake and Oasis. Image supplied.

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