Phoebe Lane’s Post

🌍 As negotiators finalize the new climate finance goals at #COP29, it is vital that smallholder farmers are included in the conversation. We've seen agriculture finally getting more attention at COP29, but as this powerful piece for Forbes by Daphne Ewing-Chow points out, less than 1% of climate finance reaches the farmers producing up to 35% of our food. 🔑 Why does this matter? Every dollar invested in smallholder resilience multiplies benefits— bigger harvests, fewer emissions, and thriving communities. 💬 As Michelle Kagari, our Senior Director of Government Relations and Partnerships, puts it: "They feed an estimated two billion people— roughly a quarter of the world’s population— so an investment in smallholder farmers is a direct investment in global food security.” Read more and join the conversation! 👇🏿

As highlighted in our recent article (visit our page), Sub-Saharan African farmers urgently need attention and technology-based solutions tailored to their specific context, not imported ones. Poor climate financing is a clear sign that it is up to us, as Sub-Saharan Africans, to push for solutions that benefit us. We cannot wait for international gatherings that often overlook our interests. #ClimateFinance #SmallholderFarmers #Agritech #SustainableFarming #SubSaharanAfrica #LocalSolutions #IKIRARO #Agriculture

Investment in climate adaptation for smallholder farmers is crucial for food security and sustainable agriculture. A new report by AgFunder and ISF Advisors , supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, found that investment in climate adaptation reached an all-time high of $63 billion in 2021/2022, a 28% YoY increase. However, this only accounts for 5% of overall climate finance, down from 7%, while climate mitigation finance grew at a faster rate. Low and middle-income countries alone need $212 billion a year by 2030 for climate adaptation. Smallholder farmers produce one-third of the world's food, making their ability to adapt to climate change essential for us all. Download the report to learn more about gaps and opportunities for investing in climate adaptation for smallholder farmers. #ClimateAdaptation #SmallholderFarmers #SustainableAgriculture

At COP29, world leaders are focusing on climate finance. This is a crucial opportunity to ensure farmers get the right support to transition to climate-smart agriculture practices. Less than 5% of climate finance currently reaches food and agriculture, even though the sector contributes one-third of global emissions and is on the frontlines of climate impacts. We need better, more accessible and impactful financing to help farmers reduce emissions, boost resilience and keep us all fed on a changing planet. High-quality climate finance means: 💸Accessible funds for farmers when they need them. 🚜Targeted investments that drive real climate action. 📢Concessional terms to avoid putting farmers and countries into unsustainable debt. Let’s push for climate finance that supports farmers around the world and secures a sustainable food future. Read Jennifer Chow new Environmental Defense Fund blog here : https://www.edf.org/Z6Ea #COP29 #ClimateFinance #ActiononFood

Unlocking Climate Finance for Agriculture at COP29: A Call for Action As we gather insights from COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, it’s clear that the agricultural sector is at a pivotal moment in the fight against climate change. With over 2.5 billion people relying on agriculture, the need for targeted climate finance has never been more urgent. Here are some key takeaways and strategies discussed at COP29 that can enhance climate finance for agriculture: Focus on Smallholder Farmers: Ministers of agriculture from Latin America and the Caribbean emphasized the need for developed countries to provide financing specifically aimed at smallholder farmers. This support is crucial to boost food security and adapt to increasingly severe climate impacts. Leveraging the Loss and Damage Fund: The operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund presents a unique opportunity to channel resources directly to those most affected by climate change. Targeting smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries can help them access improved seeds, training, and climate-resilient technologies. Data-Driven Approaches: Implementing robust data collection and analysis can guide the effective allocation of climate finance. By understanding local vulnerabilities and agricultural needs, stakeholders can ensure that funding reaches those who most need it. Integration into National Climate Strategies: It is essential to incorporate agriculture into National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This integration ensures that farmers’ voices are heard and their unique challenges are addressed in climate policies. Collaboration Across Sectors: The importance of collaboration among various stakeholders—governments, NGOs, and private sectors—was highlighted as a means to enhance the effectiveness of financial flows in agriculture. As we move forward, it’s crucial that we prioritize agriculture in our climate strategies and recognize its role in achieving global climate goals. The discussions at COP29 have set the stage for a more inclusive approach to climate finance that empowers farmers and strengthens food systems. For more insights on this topic, check out these resources: https://lnkd.in/dyvAmwxH https://lnkd.in/dZXkQp2V https://lnkd.in/d85dbDPF Let’s champion these initiatives and ensure that agriculture is not sidelined but embraced as a vital part of our collective response to the climate crisis! #COP29 #ClimateFinance #Agriculture #FoodSecurity #ClimateAction #Abutispinach

At COP29, world leaders are focusing on climate finance. This is a crucial opportunity to ensure farmers get the right support to transition to agriculture practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build climate resilience.   Less than 5% of climate finance currently reaches food and agriculture, even though the sector contributes one-third of global emissions and is on the front lines of climate impacts. We need better, more accessible and impactful financing to help farmers reduce emissions, boost resilience and keep us all fed on a changing planet.   High-quality climate finance means: 💸Accessible funds for farmers when they need them. 🚜Targeted investments that drive real climate action. 📢Concessional terms to avoid putting farmers and countries into unsustainable debt.   Let’s push for climate finance that supports farmers around the world and secures a sustainable food future. Read my Environmental Defense Fund colleague Jennifer Chow's new blog: https://www.edf.org/Z6Ea #COP29 #ClimateFinance #ActiononFood

While climate talks in Baku focus on finance, the voices of smallholder farmers, those at the forefront of the climate crisis, remain faint in the global conversation. These 510 million farmers grow up to 35% of the world’s food, yet they receive less than 1% of climate finance. Imagine relying on less than $2 a day, battling floods or droughts, and still feeding a community. That’s the daily reality for millions of farmers. And while programs like One Acre Fund show how $300 per farmer annually could spark resilience, the current funding gap stands at $151 billion. How can we shift the needle to prioritise grassroots solutions? Let’s hear your thoughts. #COP29 #ClimateFinance #SmallholderFarmers #FoodSecurity

Recap of my #worldsoilday here at UNCCD #COP16: I was honoured to start the day by delivering opening remarks on behalf of both the Action On Food hub and One Acre Fund at the CGIAR pavilion for the Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health (CA4SH) event about why soil health is foundational to the 3 Rio conventions (biodiversity, climate and desertification), how the Action on Food Hub community is making progress for food systems partnership based action across all conventions, and what this means for smallholder farmers writ large (and the significant gaps in big global promises vs delivery). With The Nature Conservancy at their event “The role of soil health in multifunctional landscapes and climate change” we discussed the challenges in context specific actions to improve soil health across whole landscapes and why climate change really threatens progress on so many levels - including geopolitical/cultural. This then linked to positive discussions with the Ambition Loop on the policy and finance linkages we could accelerate for COP30. Then back to the CA4SH team with IUCN for Leigh Winowiecki’s inspirational drive for soil health integration in food security discussions across conservation, private sector, and farmer organisations. She gave me free reign to highlight 1AF's climate finance campaign for smallholder farmers highlighting both the solutions and the costs associated with driving soil health improvements at scale. https://lnkd.in/e6tPcCTg Finally I wrapped up the day with The Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND) and Dr. Conrad Rein for the launch of their flagship food security initiative helmed by the Innovation Commission, via the humble but brilliant Michael Kremer, who is driving for evidence based action on soil health + food security solutions at scale with funders and governments alike. I am not a soil scientist and learnt a lot about how critical healthy soils really are for us all, and agreed with many today who said that the UNCCD convention should focus on all forms of land degradation, not just desertification. Most of the information I shared with this audience has been copy and pasted from the 1AF giants upon whose shoulders I stand and who are doing the real work: Margaret Vernon Stephen Aston Hepsiba Chepngeno Conde Lysa Uwizeyimana Patrick Bell Claire Brosnihan Caitlin Shaw Luke Viljoen, James Ellison and many others.

COP29 Outcomes: Agriculture Faces Funding Shortfall Amid Climate Crisis The recent outcomes from COP29 have significant implications for the agriculture sector and investors, particularly in developing countries that are already grappling with the dual challenges of climate change and food security. The agreement to incr https://lnkd.in/eTx2sh_V

As the world prepares for the United Nations's COP29, the conversation around just transitions is gaining momentum—but it’s not just energy that needs our focus. A just agricultural transition is equally vital for transforming global food systems and safeguarding the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers. These farmers are on the frontlines of climate change and urgently need support to adapt and thrive. Achieving a just transition requires a significant increase in climate finance, better incentives, and stronger regulations to empower smallholders and build resilience against extreme weather. In this article, our Director of Global Partnerships John Mundy, calls on global leaders to commit to prioritizing agriculture in climate finance at COP29. The time for action is now. Read the full article on Devex to learn how we can deliver a just agricultural transition. 👇🏿