IAK at COP30: APD Brazil provides impetus for climate-resilient agriculture
From Nov 10-21, 2025, IAK Agrar Consulting GmbH (IAK) participated in the COP30 World Climate Conference in Belém, Pará State, Brazil, as part of the German-Brazilian Agricultural Policy Dialogue (APD Brazil). The APD Brazil is funded by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Regional Identity (BMLEH) and implemented by IAK. Representatives of the BMLEH were also present during COP30 and accompanied the technical and political involvement of the APD Brazil.
COP30 brought together representatives from politics, science, business, and civil society from around the world. It provided a central framework for exchange on climate protection, climate adaptation, and sustainable development – including the role of agriculture as part of the solution.
APD Brazil made targeted contributions to key conference formats and was present in both the Green Zone and the newly created AgriZone. The Green Zone is the publicly accessible area of the conference where governments, organizations, companies, and civil society actors present and discuss their initiatives and solutions. The AgriZone, an event area organized by the Brazilian research institute Embrapa, focused for the first time at a world climate conference on the importance of agriculture and agribusiness for climate protection, adaptation, and sustainable development.
With the support of the BMLEH, the APD team was also included in the official German delegation to the UNFCCC. This enabled participation in high-level political dialogue formats and direct exchange with international delegations, ministries, and multilateral organizations.
In total, APD Brazil organized three of its own expert panels and participated as a panelist in another high-level event. The topics covered included payments for environmental services, the restoration of degraded land, the implementation of Brazil's Forest Code, and the traceability of agricultural supply chains. The events attracted considerable interest and were characterized by broad participation from high-level representatives of ministries, research institutions, business associations, and civil society.
A particular highlight was a high-level dinner hosted by APD Brazil, which promoted informal exchanges between stakeholders from Brazil and Germany and deepened the dialogue on sustainable agriculture, the bioeconomy, and climate finance. In addition, the APD team used COP30 for numerous bilateral talks and to expand strategic networks with political decision-makers, research institutions, and international organizations.
Overall, participation in COP30 underscored the growing importance of integrated approaches at the interface between agriculture, climate, and rural development. APD Brazil was able to further strengthen its role as a platform for professional exchange, policy advice, and international cooperation and, in close coordination with BMLEH, provide important impetus for climate-resilient and sustainable agricultural development.