Securing agriculture for the future

Extreme weather is disrupting production of key raw materials including coffee, cocoa, and cotton. These crops have seen significant fluctuations in yield over the past 5 years and agricultural productivity in tropical countries is already estimated to be as much as 35% lower than it would have been without climate change.  

The impacts are forecasted to accelerate in the coming decades, especially affecting smallholder and women farmers. Food systems are increasingly fragmented and vulnerable and value is unequally distributed.  

Supply chains are under intense pressure to cope with the new reality and secure future supply under in unstable conditions. However, farmers are not in a position to take financial risks to invest in on-farm changes without adequate support and market demand.  

Although value chain companies are supporting their suppliers and funding pilots, individual companies do not have the capacity, influence or mandate to future-proof their supply.  

Partnerships and innovation can transform agribusiness for good, if solutions are part of an innovative, cooperative approach and are adopted by farmers and companies. Public sector and philanthropic support can leverage investment for impact beyond farm and supply chain level by spurring private sector investment beyond defensive into pro-active investment strategies. Read more in the Full Document