According to the IPCC, limiting global warming to the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C target under the current trend of GHG emissions would necessitate the implementation of carbon dioxide removal (CDR). A paper by MIT researchers showed that portfolios of different CDR technologies can have potentials to effectively achieve net-zero goals while minimizing land, energy, and economic trade-offs while maximizing co-benefits. 

Food system transformation is necessary to achieve the SDGs, climate change, biodiversity conservation, and many other international goals. The Food Systems Countdown Initiative (FSCI) analyzed indicators on food system transformation and presented both positive developments, such as improved access to safe water, increased supply of vegetables, and enhanced conservation of animal and plant genetic resources, as well as concerns about the rising cost of healthy eating, the growing number of people experiencing food insecurity, and government accountability challenges.

According to the UK Met Office, atmospheric CO₂ concentrations at Mauna Loa, Hawaii, showed the fastest annual increase in 2024 since records began in 1958. The measured increase was 3.58 ppm, significantly exceeding the forecast of 2.84 ± 0.54 ppm.

It has been pointed out that food production has more impact on biodiversity than any other field of human activity. A review paper published in Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B. argued that sustainable agricultural intensification that maintains high yields per unit area is essential to curb biodiversity loss.

Oceans, which cover 70% of the Earth's surface, play a crucial role in the Earth's climate. According to a study published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, in 2024, global sea surface temperature (SST) and ocean heat content (OHC) in the upper 2000 meters reached unprecedented all-time highs.

It's been almost five years since the COVID-19 pandemic began. COVID-19 is a zoonotic disease, but its manifestation is closely related to environmental changes and ecosystem disturbances caused by anthropogenic factors. An op-ed published in PNAS late last year highlighted the importance of an ecological perspective in the One Health approach.

The World Weather Attribution (WWA), which analyzes the causal relationship between extreme events and climate change, also noted a 41-day increase in heatwaves that threaten human health in 2024, noting that the "risks become reality."

This year's first Pick Up will introduce science and research topics to watch in 2025, related to agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, as well as to food systems, including the new anti-obesity drug, climate and environmental policies under the new U.S. administration, COP30, and forest monitoring, as indicated in the Nature article. 

As 2024 draws to a close, the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) has reviewed the 2024 trends in the agricultural market and made a forecast on the factors that will affect market trends in 2025.