Transforming Agriculture: Climate Finance, Digital Innovation, and Inclusive Supply Chains for Smallholder Farmers
Smallholder farmers are the backbone of global food security, yet they continue to face systemic barriers to market access, financing, and climate resilience. This session will explore innovative solutions to scale sustainable agriculture, from climate finance models that prioritize quality over quantity to digital tools that empower farmers and attract youth to the sector.
We will examine how agroforestry and agroecology can drive sustainable food production, how carbon credits can be leveraged for farmer resilience, and the role of gender equity in improving access to resources like financing, technology, and markets. Additionally, we will discuss private-public partnerships, last-mile delivery solutions for animal health, and digital agriculture platforms that modernize value chains. By centering locally-led, high-impact strategies, this session will highlight scalable pathways for inclusive, tech-driven, and climate-smart agribusiness.
Key Questions:
How can climate finance models better support smallholder farmers, prioritizing impact over scale?
What role do digital tools and agritech solutions play in making agriculture more attractive and profitable, especially for youth?
How can gender-equitable access to resources drive economic and social resilience for smallholder farmers?
What are the most effective multi-stakeholder initiatives and public-private partnerships for sustainable agriculture?
How can carbon credits, agroforestry, and climate-smart solutions improve farm-level sustainability while mitigating climate change?
This discussion will bring together farmers, funders, policymakers, and technology innovators to explore strategies for scaling agricultural transformation, ensuring food security, and strengthening rural economies through sustainable and inclusive solutions.
Session Co-Leaders:
Nonsi Nkomo – Business Development Manager at Solidaridad Southern Africa, securing funding and partnerships to scale climate resilience initiatives for farmers
Doug Satre – Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships at Plant With Purpose, connecting global stakeholders to reforestation and agroecology programs that empower local communities.
Peter Awin – CEO & Co-Founder of Cowtribe, Africa’s first technology-driven animal vaccine delivery platform, improving access for smallholder farmers.
Sunghee Tark – CEO & Co-Founder of Bean Voyage, a feminist non-profit co-creating a sustainable coffee value chain with smallholder women producers and youth.
Paschal Nchunda – CEO of Wakulima Agri-Food Company Ltd, driving climate-smart farming and nutrition solutions to empower women agripreneurs in Tanzania.