#USA #Gates Foundation #Climate Change #Belém #small farmers

Gates Foundation's New Commitment to Support Small Farmers

The Gates Foundation has recently pledged a massive investment of $1.4 billion to aid smallholder farmers who are on the front lines of adapting to the harsh realities of climate change. This announcement was made during COP30 in Belém, Brazil, where a spotlight was placed on local adaptation strategies amidst escalating climate challenges.

For many regions across the globe, small farmers are crucial to local food security. In sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, the impacts of climate change are severely threatening agricultural productivity, as farmers contend with rising temperatures, droughts, and flooding. The new investment aims to not only reinforce their resilience but also to help protect the hard-won progress against poverty that so many have achieved.

Bill Gates, the chair of the Gates Foundation, remarked, "Smallholder farmers feed their communities under the most challenging conditions imaginable. Supporting their ingenuity with the right tools and resources is one of the smartest and most impactful things we can do for people and the planet."

Addressing Funding Gaps Globally

Despite producing a third of the global food supply, farmers in low-income countries often struggle to adapt to the increasing threats posed by climate change. The current global funding for climate efforts barely scratches the surface, with less than 1% addressing the specific vulnerabilities these farmers face. Without significant investment in adaptation strategies, food insecurity will only increase, undoing years of hard-won efforts to alleviate poverty.

World Bank studies reveal that targeted adaptations could significantly boost economies, particularly in small island developing states, by up to 15% by 2050. Furthermore, the World Resources Institute highlights that every dollar spent on climate adaptation could yield more than $10 in social and economic benefits over the next decade.

Mark Suzman, the CEO of the Gates Foundation, emphasized the importance of climate adaptation, stating, "It is not just about development; it’s an economic and moral imperative. This commitment continues our support for farmers in Africa and South Asia who are already innovating to cope with extreme weather. But they can’t do it alone – governments and the private sector must work together to prioritize adaptation alongside mitigation."

Fostering Farmer-Led Innovations

As climate shocks intensify, funding for helping farmers adapt isn’t keeping pace. According to the 2025 UN report on food security and nutrition, Africa is the only region where hunger and malnutrition have risen this year. Urgent adaptation measures are necessary, as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that agricultural productivity in certain parts of Africa could plummet by 20% by 2050 without immediate action.

The Foundation's investment will expand farmer-led and evidence-based innovations that strengthen rural livelihoods and food systems in the face of increasing climate threats. Key areas of focus will include:

1. Digital Advisory Services: Utilizing mobile apps, SMS, and other platforms to deliver timely, personalized information, enabling farmers to make informed planting decisions and manage risks effectively.
2. Climate-Resilient Crops and Livestock: Developing varieties that withstand drought, heat, and emerging pests whilst improving yields and nutritional values.
3. Soil Health Innovations: Implementing strategies to restore degraded lands, enhance productivity, and lower emissions, supported by a partnership with Novo Nordisk Foundation to advance soil science research.

Partnership for Global Impact

This renewed commitment builds on partnerships formed during COP27, already reaching millions of farmers. Notable initiatives include:

• - AIM for Scale: Launched in 2023, this partnership provides AI-powered weather forecasts via SMS to nearly 40 million farmers across 13 Indian states during the monsoon of 2025, safeguarding millions of hectares.
• - TomorrowNow and KALRO: Collaborating with the Kenyan Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, TomorrowNow delivers hyper-local weather alerts to over 5 million Kenyan farmers, improving yields and reducing crop losses, with plans for expansion into Tanzania, Malawi, and Zambia.

By partnering with local researchers, governments, and private sector stakeholders, the Foundation aims to scale these efforts to bolster rural economies and food systems in the long-term.

"We have seen what’s possible when smallholder farmers have access to the right tools and resources – they adapt faster than anyone else," stated Wanjeri Mbugua, CEO of TomorrowNow. "With the right investment and solid partnerships, we can put powerful, data-driven solutions directly into farmers’ hands, empowering them to make informed decisions and build resilience under their own conditions."

Collaborating at COP30

This investment underscores a unified global commitment – led by African leaders and Brazil’s presidency at COP30 – to center food, livelihoods, and health in resilience planning. Brazil's experience, which combines social programs with sustainable agricultural innovations, illustrates how inclusive adaptation can drive equitable growth.

In collaboration with Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, Embrapa, AGRA, AIM for Scale, CGIAR, and Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), the Foundation will co-host an Agricultural Innovation Fair at COP30. This high-level event on November 10 aims to showcase affordable, climate-smart solutions designed for and often by farmers themselves. More details can be found here.

About the Gates Foundation

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Gates Foundation strives to help all individuals lead healthy and productive lives. In developing nations, the Foundation partners with local organizations to create effective solutions that allow people to take control of their futures and realize their full potential. In the U.S., the Foundation works to ensure that everyone, especially those with the fewest resources, has access to the opportunities essential for success in school and in life. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the Foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman, under the guidance of Bill Gates and the Board of Trustees.