Climate-Smart Agriculture holds promise in building a robust agri-food system amidst the intensifying effects of climate change, however, there is a pressing need to enhance current initiatives
This article is part of the series—Raisina Edit 2024
With over 4.62 billion acres of farmland worldwide, 8 billion acres of pasture, and 10 billion acres of forest land, the food system accounts for approximately 22 percent of global greenhouse gases (GHGs), biodiversity loss, and consumption of 70 percent of freshwater resources. Global food demand is estimated to significantly increase to meet the world population’s needs of 9.7 billion people by 2050. Such growth will exert further pressure on natural resources, increase GHGs, and worsen inequalities between countries. The World Bank forecasts that climate change may thrust approximately 43 million Africans into poverty by 2030, while the The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) cautions that diminished agricultural output and supply chain disruptions might subject 90 million Indians to hunger. Without significant climate mitigation action in the agri-food sector, the goals of the Paris Agreement cannot be achieved. Nevertheless, more pervasive food insecurity is expected without sustainable food production practices. We are faced with a paradox: agriculture is one of the sectors most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, which, however, inevitably contributes to causing it. Thus, the global agri-food system must address the climate emergency, feed the world, and reduce its emissions.
Without significant climate mitigation action in the agri-food sector, the goals of the Paris Agreement cannot be achieved.
Can this challenge become an opportunity? Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) may bring a positive transformation in agriculture, enhancing productivity and incomes, reducing vulnerability to climate threats, and decreasing GHGs through increased carbon sequestration. Finding the right combination to manage these three goals makes CSA climatically “smart”. CSA’s effectiveness lies in its ability to balance productivity, adaptation, and mitigation, incorporating solutions tailored to local conditions. Its versatility and adaptability make it suitable for widespread application, including in low-income countries.
CSA’s approach to sustainable development garners widespread support, demonstrated by AIM for Climate mobilising 55 countries at COP28 towards scaling CSA and the eightfold increase seen in World Bank funding, pushing it to roughly US$ 3 billion. Such support correlates with CSA’s growing adoption, particularly in Africa, where desertification exacerbates poverty, food insecurity, and conflict. The expected increase in environmental migrants to 135 million by 2045 due to soil degradation highlights the need to address land competition that heightens social tensions and violence. CSA practices promise to mitigate these tensions and boost economic growth by enhancing agricultural productivity and creating job opportunities. The Great Green Wall for Sahara and the Sahel Initiative (GGWSSI) is the most significant international effort in this direction. It is a paramount international endeavour to combat desertification in 11 African nations by planting an 8,000-km forest strip by 2030, seeking substantial environmental and socio-economic improvements via local sustainable practices. Though, with only 20 percent completed, its outcomes require re-evaluation. Similarly, even if some CSA projects (e.g., Alkama; moa Technology; Kheyti) show excellent results, their widespread success is hindered by various challenges.
CSA practices promise to mitigate these tensions and boost economic growth by enhancing agricultural productivity and creating job opportunities.
The main obstacle to CSA adoption lies in the significant initial costs and the risks to yields. Perceptions of reduced profitability, perceived and actual risks, and high transaction costs due to inefficient links between financiers and small-scale farmers hinder the acquisition of CSA financing. When financing is obtained, lenders often increase interest rates and tighten eligibility criteria to reduce their exposure to agricultural risks. These measures inevitably influence market dynamics, limiting the ability to effectively identify and meet the financial needs critical for implementing CSA projects.
The second roadblock is that, frequently, there is a lack of technical skills and human resources necessary to implement CSA effectively. Although heterogeneous, adopting CSA requires prior training and access to established approaches. Often, changes in agricultural practices require a change in established habits that can encounter resistance from farmers, especially when immediate benefits are not evident. In both scenarios, the lack of sufficient funding emerges as a critical impediment, a factor upon which the availability of appropriate technology and infrastructure also heavily relies.
Third, the market for climate-smart agricultural products still needs to grow, which restricts the ability to find customers willing to pay a premium. As a result, it can be difficult for farmers to recover the costs incurred for implementing the practice and making their transition to CSA economically advantageous.
Fourth, in several countries, governmental and regulatory obstacles to adopting CSA exist. The lack of incentives and adequate regulatory frameworks is often associated with uncoordinated local, regional, and national policies and practices. This means that actions taken at the local level may not be supported or recognised nationally, and vice versa. Equally, there is a lack of coordination between the agricultural sector and those sectors related to agriculture.
The lack of incentives and adequate regulatory frameworks is often associated with uncoordinated local, regional, and national policies and practices.
Lastly, despite CSA being aimed at improving the resilience of agricultural systems to climate change, extreme climate variability can exceed some of these practices’ adaptability or the ability of farmers to implement them quickly. This can lead to periods during which CSA practices are ineffective against evolving climate impacts.
A wealth of publications from the World Bank and FAO provides evidence of considerable enhancements in agricultural productivity, augmented adaptability to the climate crisis, and notable decreases in emissions across a wide array of global CSA projects. Consequently, addressing the challenges above is imperative to broaden and refine this strategy, which holds the potential to feed the planet sustainably while maintaining its ecological integrity. Here are a few suggestions that could be incorporated:
1) In response to the substantial initial expenses, establishing a robust agricultural supply chain is essential, as reliance on governmental funding alone is insufficient. Thus, it is advisable to initiate market-driven initiatives that accommodate agricultural entities of diverse scales and varieties, ensuring that financial support is not contingent upon the nature of the requesting entity. Such an approach could catalyse a domino effect of investments or foster comprehensive market initiatives aligned with climate-smart principles.
2) Expanding the evidence base is a necessary action for the implementation of CSA. It is also an effective strategy to address the lack of technical skills and human resources, providing usable information to develop training programmes adequate for informed decision-making. Furthermore, expediting the uptake of sustainable practices and technological advancements in agriculture stimulates innovation and improves access to financial resources.
Encouraging companies to compensate farmers more for climate-smart products can reduce emissions through a carbon inset, effectively rewarding producers for the adoption costs and risks associated with CSA.
3) Offering financial incentives to farmers who implement CSA practices—such as grants, tax credits, or access to low-interest loans—is imperative. Encouraging companies to compensate farmers more for climate-smart products can reduce emissions through a carbon inset, effectively rewarding producers for the adoption costs and risks associated with CSA. Additionally, establishing market platforms linking CSA producers with consumers and retailers keen on sustainable products or creating certification schemes that verify the sustainability of products would enhance consumer appeal.
4) Facilitating favourable policy frameworks is crucial for the effective deployment of CSA. Governments can steer the sector toward adoption by reforming current policies or enacting new ones that eliminate barriers and provide incentives. Implementing enabling platforms, such as climate-smart economy-based credit rating systems, market connections to streamline channels and lessen reliance on intermediaries, and advisory services, would support this effort.
5) Increasing funding in CSA globally is imperative—especially to address the challenges of extreme climate events. Agri-food systems receive only 4 percent of global climate funding despite contributing a third to global greenhouse gas emissions. This imbalance necessitates a realignment of financial funds to the sector’s relevance. Indeed, public funds—from governments, multilateral agencies, and climate funds—could act as a catalyst to unleash significant investments from the private sector. The consequence would be a maximisation of the agricultural sector’s climate resilience.
Collaboration between governments, international organisations, the private sector, and local communities is the necessary condition to maximise the effectiveness of CSA.
CSA is essential for a sustainable agri-food system amidst the escalating multiple impacts of climate change. However, current efforts can and must be amplified. Collaboration between governments, international organisations, the private sector, and local communities is the necessary condition to maximise the effectiveness of CSA. Nevertheless, to realise its full potential, supra-national policies addressing the challenges posed by the climate emergency are fundamental because they transcend national borders and require global responses and strategies. Now, more than ever, international bodies and multilateral platforms play a key role in coordinating action necessary to guide national and local efforts. This is all the truer when a sector upon which humanity’s very existence is based is at stake.
Stefania Petruzzelli is a Researcher and Content Specialist at the Future Food Institute.
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Stefania Petruzzelli, PhD., after an extensive period of academic research in Italian and Comparative Literature with a focus on anthropological, historical, and social issues, has ...
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