Business action for land, drought resilience and regenerative food systems
Hosted by: UNCCD Secretariat and Government of Mongolia
Venue: COP17, National Garden Park, Khoroo 26, Bayanzurkh District, Ulaanbaatar 13313, Mongolia
Overview
The seventeenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) will take place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from 17 – 28 August 2026. Held under the theme “Restoring Land, Restoring Hope”, this event marks a significant event as the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management.
UNCCD COP17 will bring governments, business, finance, science and civil society together to advance action on land degradation, drought resilience and sustainable land management. COP17 is a key moment to show how businesses can help protect and restore productive landscapes, strengthen food systems resilience and mobilize finance for soil health, regenerative agriculture and rangeland restoration.
Why this matters
Land is a foundation of our economies, providing food, water, fuel, and raw materials. Yet, up to 40 per cent of the world’s land is already degraded, threatening key economic sectors. Every year, land degradation, desertification and drought add up to a total loss of 878 billion USD.
Regenerative landscapes can advance food security, prosperous rural economies, and more resilient supply chains. For businesses, investing in regenerative landscapes can mitigate risks and create revenue opportunities. For governments, it presents an opportunity to deliver on the shared objectives of three Rio Conventions, while strengthening national supply security.
UNCCD COP17 is a key moment to engage governments and partners on the enabling conditions needed to scale soil health, regenerative agriculture and resilient food systems. As a partner of the Business Land Initiative and the Riyadh Action Agenda, WBCSD supports partnerships to scale up global efforts for land conservation, restoration and drought resilience.
Finance
closing the land restoration finance gap and unlocking investment through blended finance, de-risking capital, fiscal policy reform and greener global value chains
Water
advancing proactive drought risk management, cooperation on the land-water nexus and financing for drought-resilient landscapes.
Land & People
focusing on land and rangeland restoration, sustainable land management and inclusive land governance, with land stewards at the center.
Food Systems & Soil Health
connecting soil restoration to food security, agricultural productivity and resilient farming livelihoods.
Business engagement at UNCCD COP17
For the latest information on the COP17 program participants should refer directly to the official COP17 website and the UNCCD Private Sector Guide to Participation. These external resources are maintained independently of WBCSD and provide practical guidance to help private sector representatives plan their engagement and maximize their participation at COP17.
If you require accreditation for UNCCD COP17 or are interested in speaking opportunities, please reach out to WBCSD directly.
Engagement with senior decision-makers
WBCSD will be represented by Emeline Fellus (Senior Director, Agriculture & Food) and Victoria Crawford (Director, Agriculture & Food) during COP17. Please reach out to copaction@wbcsd.org to arrange a bilateral.
The events below are relevant to a range of stakeholders working in sustainability, particularly those from business, policy and finance sectors. Please contact copaction@wbcsd.org for any enquiries.
WBCSD at COP 17
For an overview of WBCSD’s engagements at COP 17 please view:
What participants will gain
- A clearer view of emerging policy and finance priorities for land, drought resilience and food systems
- Practical examples of how companies and partners are advancing regenerative agriculture, soil health and landscape restoration
- Opportunities to connect with policymakers, finance institutions, business peers and implementation partners
- Insights into metrics, disclosure and target-setting approaches that can support credible business action on land
- Visibility into finance mechanisms and investable models for soil health, rangelands and restoration
- Pathways for collaboration across food, agriculture, fashion, finance and public-sector stakeholders
- A stronger understanding of where business engagement can support land degradation neutrality and drought resilience outcomes
Who should attend
| Companies with land, agriculture, food, fashion or natural fiber value chains | Sustainability, nature, climate and resilience leads |
| Policy, public affairs and government engagement teams | Finance, investment and risk teams working on land, nature or food systems |
| Regenerative agriculture, soil health and landscape implementation teams | Supply chain, sourcing and procurement teams working with farmers and producers |
| Organizations supporting land restoration, rangelands, water resilience or farmer livelihoods | WBCSD members and partners looking to engage in COP17 dialogues, bilateral meetings or implementation partnerships |