The International Fresh Produce Association will represent the produce and floral sectors in global climate negotiations, promoting climate-smart agriculture and sustainable practices at COP29 in Azerbaijan.

At the Global Produce & Floral Show hosted by the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), a key announcement was made during the State of the Industry keynote session. IFPA’s CEO Cathy Burns shared that the association has achieved observer status with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

This designation grants IFPA the ability to represent the interests of the fresh produce and floral sectors in crucial global climate negotiations. The organization’s Vice President of Sustainability, Tamara Muruetagoiena, will serve as IFPA’s representative within the UNFCCC.

Burns emphasized the significance of this new role by stating, “Climate change is a top concern for our members, and it’s an incredible honor that IFPA’s work in sustainability and climate-smart agriculture has resulted in the association being granted this status by the United Nations.” She further highlighted the fresh produce and floral community’s active role in advancing sustainable agriculture and expressed the importance of ensuring the industry’s voice is influential in forums such as the UNFCCC and the upcoming COP29 climate summit.

The UNFCCC encompasses major climate agreements, including the 2015 Paris Agreement and the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, both of which aim to stabilize greenhouse gas levels to prevent hazardous climate disruptions.

As part of these efforts, the IFPA will contribute to the discussions and policies at COP29, to be held next month in Azerbaijan. Agriculture, which was officially included in the UN’s climate agenda during the previous COP summit, will remain a focal point in IFPA’s advocacy efforts.

Muruetagoiena, who has long been committed to environmental sustainability, expressed her enthusiasm for representing IFPA at this international level. “Sustainability has always been a cornerstone of my professional career, and I am humbled to have this opportunity to represent IFPA,” she said. “We are participating in COP29 next month in Azerbaijan to ensure our industry is represented at the highest global meeting discussing climate change.”

In addition to IFPA’s involvement in UN climate efforts, the organization has been active on multiple sustainability fronts. Muruetagoiena has chaired the Environmental Working Group of the Consumer Goods Forum’s Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI), where she contributed to the development of environmental benchmarking standards. These standards, released mid-summer, provide critical guidance for the fresh produce and floral industries on building sustainable supply chains.

According to IFPA’s research, climate change and extreme weather events are among the most pressing global threats, with the potential to cause significant harm to societies, economies, and ecosystems. The association’s findings warn that if global temperatures rise between 1.5°C and 4.5°C by the century’s end, agricultural systems may face challenges beyond manageable thresholds, impacting global food security.

Looking ahead, IFPA is set to launch climate-smart field trials in California this December, as part of its USDA-funded initiative, “A Vibrant Future.” This program encourages specialty crop growers to adopt climate-smart practices, creating a consumer-driven market for sustainably produced fruits and vegetables. These field trials exemplify IFPA’s dedication to fostering climate resilience through innovative agricultural practices and align with the association’s broader mission to support sustainable development and mitigate climate risks.

With IFPA’s new observer status at the UNFCCC and its commitment to sustainability, the association aims to lead the fresh produce and floral industries toward a more climate-resilient future. As stated in the IFPA’s report, its participation in these global climate forums ensures the industry’s voice will be heard in shaping outcomes that safeguard the planet while promoting sustainable agricultural growth.