The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has announced a $1.4 billion, four-year investment to support smallholder farmers across sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia in adapting to climate change. The announcement was made at the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Brazil.
This funding will provide innovative tools such as AI-powered weather forecasts, digital advisory services, climate-resilient crops, and soil health innovations to help farmers build resilience against extreme weather, protect their livelihoods, and combat poverty. The initiative aims to reach 100 million farmers by 2030 through programs like AIM for Scale.
Despite producing one-third of the world’s food, smallholder farmers receive less than 1% of global climate finance. Research shows that targeted climate adaptation investments can significantly boost GDP and social well-being in vulnerable regions.
The Foundation emphasized that governments and the private sector must collaborate to scale farmer-led innovations for sustainable growth and food security. The investment also aligns with Africa’s leadership in climate adaptation amid rising hunger and malnutrition challenges.
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