On September 17th, the 2026 ‘Climate x’ Leadership Training Program, hosted by the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate, successfully held the sixth live session, focusing on Climate x Food

How can we transform food systems to nourish all people while protecting nature and building climate resilience? This course explores the scientific pathways toward a sustainable agriculture that is nutritious, food-secure, nature-friendly, and climate-resilient.

Dr. Rohini Mattoo is a Consultant Researcher at Indian Institute of Science, her scientific expertise translates advanced biological knowledge into practical sustainability and adaptation solutions relevant to industry, research, policy, and the promotion of human well-being. Her work connects fundamental biochemical processes to agriculture, human health, and planetary well-being. She has examined the relationships between the environment and health in order to advance public health knowledge under diverse stressors. She has progressed to conducting interdisciplinary work grounded in holistic philosophy and scientific understanding.

During the lecture, Dr. Mattoo examined the urgent need to diversify food systems beyond dominant staples such as wheat, rice, and maize to include nutrient-rich pulses, vegetables, and indigenous crops that improve public health while reducing environmental costs. She explained how climate change increasingly threatens agriculture through intensifying drought, heat, and floods, while outlining nature-friendly practices that rebuild soil microbiomes and strengthen long-term climate resilience. Drawing on extensive field trial results from India, she demonstrated that natural farming significantly improves soil moisture retention, boosts crop yields, and cuts synthetic input costs. She concluded that transforming food landscapes requires combining technological innovation with robust policy support and youth engagement to foster sustainable agriculture advancing both human nutrition and planetary well-being.

The 2026 Climate x Leadership Training Program, hosted by the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate (GAUC), and strategically supported by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and GAUC's global partners, aims to empower youth with the knowledge, skills, and tools to become the climate leaders of tomorrow. The program inspires participants to envision a sustainable future, take meaningful action, and unlock their potential as leaders for a carbon-neutral future.

Next week, Mr. Jerome L’host, senior expert and trainer from UNITAR will be providing two lectures on Youth Leadership, which will conclude the Academic module of the ‘Climate x’ Leadership Training Program.

- end -