The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on Monday announced a major $1.4 billion initiative to help smallholder farmers cope with climate change.
The drive, unveiled at Cop27 in Egypt, aims to recognise the importance of small-scale farms in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia to the global food system and do more to help them adapt to the changing climate.
It comes as the United Nations last week warned that the world was not doing enough to help poorer nations adapt to the turmoil caused by global warming and said the annual financing need would be $340bn by 2030.
Central to this are small scale farms. More than two billion people depend on smallholder farms for food and income, yet less than 2 per cent of global climate finance is devoted to helping these farms adapt to climate change, the Gates foundation said.
The projects use big data, analytics, and digital platforms that try to boost incomes and food security in small-scale farms.
"From the droughts in the Horn of Africa to the floods in Pakistan and Nigeria, the groups that contributed by far the least to climate change — small-scale agricultural farmers who are the poorest of the poor — are being most affected right now by the impact of climate change," the foundation’s chief executive Mark Suzman, told The National on the sidelines of Cop27.
“It is a moral and practical imperative that the world gets much more serious about investing in global climate adaption. The needs are critical."
Four-year farm funding plan
The foundation will fund initiatives over four years to help smallholder farmers to boost digital technologies, spur African-led innovation and build support for female smallholder farmers to capitalise on their untapped potential.
“Women in rural Africa are the backbone of their food systems, but they have never had equal access to the resources they need to reach their full potential or build resilience to looming climate threats,” said Melinda French Gates, co-chair of the foundation.
“As the climate crisis accelerates, women’s vital role in their economies is too important to overlook. With the right financing and marketing support, women smallholder farmers could earn more in a day than they currently earn in a month, ultimately transforming these regional food systems and unlocking a healthier, more sustainable and more prosperous future for families and communities across the continent," she said.
Mr Suzman said the challenging geopolitical backdrop made it difficult to for countries to focus on the key issue of climate change.
“It is absolutely not moving fast enough," he said, when asked if countries were doing enough to tackle climate change.
"That’s where we see a role for philanthropy like ours."
The foundation will work with partners such as the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the CGIAR Excellence in Agronomy that works with African research institutes, local businesses and farmer organisations to distribute the funds.
It will also work on other projects to develop a text-messaging weather system for farmers and strive to improve the health of livestock and reduce the carbon footprint of small holdings.
“The climate crisis is causing enormous harm every day as it jeopardises entire regions of people and economies,” said Bill Gates, co-chair of the foundation.
“More funding is necessary to ensure agricultural and technological innovations are widely available to vulnerable communities, helping them to adapt to climate change, save lives and increase economic growth.”
Cop27 continues in Sharm El Sheikh until November 18.
Cop27 - in pictures
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Cop27 delegates arrive in Sharm El Sheikh. AFP -
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi shake hands during the Middle East Green Initiative conference, held on the sidelines of the the UN's Cop27 climate summit in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. EPA -
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz delivers a speech during the Cop27 summit. AP -
Prince Mohammed appears on a projection as he addresses leaders during the second Green Middle East Initiative summit, held on the sidelines of the Cop27 climate conference in Sharm El Sheikh. SPA -
French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech at Cop27. AP -
Sheikh Mohamed speaks with Jordan's King Abdullah II and Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah at the event. Reuters -
A sign illuminates the plenary hall at Cop27. Getty -
Sheikh Mansour, centre, visits the Bahrain Pavilion. With him is Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change and chairman of Masdar. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni speaks during the Cop27 summit. EPA -
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, participated in the second Green Middle East Initiative conference, which began on Monday in Sharm El Sheikh. WAM -
A visitor takes a picture at the Ukrainian pavilion during Cop27. Reuters -
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, right, hugs French President Emmanuel Macron during a meeting at Cop27. AP -
Sheikh Mohamed with Mr Sunak. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
A member of the Amazon indigenous delegation attends the event. EPA -
Sheikh Mohamed meets Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Former British prime minister Boris Johnson poses for a selfie at the event in Sharm El Sheikh. EPA -
Mr Johnson poses for a selfie at the event. EPA -
Mr Sunak addresses delegates at the Cop27 summit. AP -
Sheikh Mohamed meets Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Mr Herzog delivers a speech at the summit. AFP -
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed addresses the UN's Cop27 climate summit in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Mohamed attends the Cop27 summit. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Al Gore, chairman of Generation Investment Management, speaks at the climate conference. Bloomberg -
Mr El Sisi speaks during the plenary session at Cop27. Bloomberg -
Sheikh Mohamed with Mr El Sisi. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Delegates attend a session at Cop27. Bloomberg -
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres speaks at Cop27. Getty -
Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad greets King Abdullah II of Jordan during a photo session at Cop27. Bloomberg -
Mr Johnson at Cop27. AP -
Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson writes down his contact details for Mr Sunak during the Cop27 climate conference. Getty -
President Sheikh Mohamed greets Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, at the event. Getty -
President Sheikh Mohamed, Jordan's King Abdullah II, Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad, Mr El Sisi, Mr Guterres, Mr Macron, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati and other leaders pose for a family photo during the Cop27 climate summit in Sharm El Sheikh. Reuters -
Sheikh Mohamed and King Abdullah in Sharm El Sheikh. Reuters -
Mr Scholz boards a government plane to travel to Egypt for the Cop27 summit. AP -
Sheikh Mohamed with other dignitaries. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Mohamed with Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad and other dignitaries. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Mohamed tours the conference with Dr Al Jaber. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
From left, Mr El Sisi, Ms Meloni and Mr Guterres pose for photographs at the start of Cop27. EPA -
Mr Sunak meets European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during the Cop27 summit. PA -
US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, right, at the Cop27 summit in Sharm El Sheikh. AP -
Mr Macron meets young Africans on the sidelines of Cop27. AFP -
The French president listens to young conference-goers speak at the event. AFP -
The Green Zone at Cop27. Fatima Al Mahmoud / The National -
The Green Zone aims to promote dialogue, awareness, education and commitments through events, exhibitions, workshops and talks. Fatima Al Mahmoud / The National -
It is dotted with life-size art installations, including a large panda made from recycled materials such as pieces of glass and plastic bottles. Fatima Al Mahmoud / The National -
The Green Zone will hold themed events such as Gender Day, Decarbonisation Day and Solutions Day. Fatima Al Mahmoud / The National -
It is a vast, vibrant space that offers a change of scenery. Fatima Al Mahmoud / The National -
The Green Zone is designed as a place for the business community, youths, civil societies, academics, artists and fashion experts from all over the world to express themselves. Fatima Al Mahmoud / The National -
Mr Sunak arrives in Sharm El Sheikh to attend Cop27. Getty
