As the global agricultural sector continues to grapple with the rising frequency and severity of extreme climate conditions, small-scale farmers and harvesting systems across already economically disadvantaged countries are hit hardest. Effectively tackling desertification will be essential in reversing water scarcity, maintaining biodiversity and soil productivity, thus uplifting food systems as a whole. An estimated 500 million people currently live and work in desertified areas, requiring both resilient and sustainable solutions to overcome the challenges posed by land degradation. As such, this timely panel discussion will focus on the role and importance of scaling innovation and science-backed solutions towards supporting landless workers and small-scale farmers. How should cross-sector partnerships be better leveraged to address this global challenge? What is the responsibility of private industry? On a multilateral level, what are the necessary investments and resource frameworks and how can they be prioritized at COP16?