Rebekah Braswell

Have you seen Carbon Tanzania's 2023 impact report? 🔎 The report is full of impressive stats that are the result of the voluntary carbon market channeling finance directly to frontline communities in Tanzania protecting nature. 🌳 The scale of the revenue earned by the forest communities is so large that once natural resource protection activities have been funded there is enough to support the building of their communities. 💵 It doesn't stop there though! The impact report takes a closer look at the results of our Social Impact assessment tool that was deployed in 2023 and explains how the communities experienced the impact of the carbon revenue they earned. 📈 Read the full report here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dJE4WZF3 #nature #impact #voluntarycarbonmarket

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Dr. Mathews Phosa, Chairperson of AGDA, shares profound insights on agricultural land reform and the importance of diversity in ownership at #AgbizCongress2024. His perspective underscores the critical need for inclusive policies in South Africa's agricultural sector. #Agbiz24 #LandReform #Diversity

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Strong support today from Gerald G. Mweli, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Tanzania for upscaling agroecology in Tanzania’s strategy for food security, climate resilience, biodiversity and farmer incomes. “Agroecology is taking high speed in global conversations” “In Tanzania we will upscale ecological organic agriculture, through our NEOAS strategy to achieve our goals of food security, climate resilience, biodiversity, job creation and farm incomes. As noted from the scientific community, agroecology contributes to these goals.” “We have increased our agricultural budget by 5 times compared to three years ago. We must ensuring that whatever we are doing is enhancing sustatinability. “In our transformation agenda represented by our Agriculture Master Plan, we will increase our productivity, improve irrigation and water management, food exports including organic products, increase domestic seed production and reduce mismanagement of agrichemicals. One contributing strategy for these goals will be to increasing the land area with agroecology and climate smart agriculture by 2 million hectares by 2030. “ “We are the fifth largest producer of organic cotton in the world as documented by FiBL. We will be a leader in organic cotton” The messages came today at the opening of the "Cultivating Change Gathering" bringing together leaders in philanthropy, bi-lateral and multilateral donors, governments and civil society organisations working for food systems change through agroecology. The gathering in Arusha Tanzania is organized by the Global Alliance for the Future of Food, the Agroecology Coalition and Biovision Foundation. The Permanent Secretary detailed and supported the 6 core strategy interventions in Tanzania's National Ecological Organic Agriculture Strategy: ✅ Equipping farmers with latest knowledge on agroecology ✅ Increase availability of inputs—strengthening smallholders en access to seed, seedlings and fertilisers as alternatives to conventional fertilisers ✅ Expand market access for smallholder farmer, Participatory Guarantee Systems for local markets and organic grower groups to gain access to global markets, to improve incomes and drive transition to agroecology in farming. ✅ Mainstream village land use planning,  Protecting land for agriculture, and sensitizing local leaders to how agroecology helps them reach their local goals for food securlity, incomes and natural ressources. ✅ Improve access to finance products for smallholder farmers and supply chain actors ✅ Support for coordination and capacity building in civil society organization to drive implementation on the ground.

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Smallholder agriculture remains the primary economic activity in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite substantial international commitments and increased investments in agricultural research and development, a detailed analysis of microdata from six African countries by Senior Research Fellow Douglas Gollin, alongside Philip Wollburg, Thomas Bentze, Yuchen Lu, and Christopher Udry, reveals no significant improvement in smallholder crop productivity from 2008 to 2019. This lack of productivity growth poses challenges for poverty reduction and the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to double agricultural productivity. Their findings highlight the need for more effective interventions to support smallholder farmers, who are crucial for addressing poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. Find out more and read their recently released paper here: https://lnkd.in/e8-AQsK3 #OxfordEconomics #DevelopmentEconomics #SmallholderAgriculture #UNSustainableDevelopment

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One of the things that you realize as you get deeper into the process of supporting African smallholder farmers with access to inputs (fertilizer, seeds, crop protection) is that: a) although more today have access to irrigation that a decade ago, disproportionately the farmers depend on mother nature and the increasingly inconsistent continental climate for rain, and b) these raining seasons ( for most countries) come once a year and last 3-4 months. This is all relevant because we are entering the period when 5 of the 6 countries that we are focusing on in this phase of the African Trade Credit Guarantee Program are entering their main planting seasons or the perion of "long rains". Thus, from now until the end of the year, in multiple countries we will be actively helping fertilizer suppliers and hub agro-dealers to get fertilizer to retailers and ultimately farmers.

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Financial institutions face many challenges when lending to the missing middle, particularly those in more volatile, loose agricultural value chains. Some external factors, like wars, climate shocks, and the business environment, are often beyond their control. Read more about how the SME Impact Fund used four vital ingredients to scale up lending to the "missing middle" in the agriculture sector.

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Last week we hosted an event “Getting Soil Up to Speed” with The World Bank, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) and the Thyrve Innovation Programme Lab in Nairobi, Kenya. As part of the event, Briter's director and AgBase programme lead David Saunders participated in a panel discussion with Beryl Agengo from The World Bank, Mukami Gitau from AgroCares and Federico Naccarato Sartori from World Food Programme on Barriers and opportunities to scaling the impact of soil fertility and soil health innovators in Kenya. At the panel, David Saunders shared 5 key observations from the past decade on soil health and fertility innovation in Kenya. They included: 1. While deal flow into the wider #Agtech ecosystem in Africa has declined over recent years, funding to innovators that either directly or indirectly contribute to soil health and soil fertility has remained stable and even on the rise in some markets. 2. More than 60% of funding has gone to innovators in #Kenya where the majority are directly targeting soil health and soil fertility, with the top funded products addressing issues related to #solarirrigation and water management, fertilizers and other farming inputs, as well as #soiltesting. 3. Agtech innovators addressing these soil health and soil fertility issues in Kenya have attracted bigger ticket sizes from a wider range of financing instruments than the rest of Africa, reflecting a more mature ecosystem. 4. But over the last few years deal flow has slowed to soil health and soil fertility innovators in Kenya with ticket sizes getting smaller and more early-stage innovators relying on grant funding, mirroring similar trends to the wider #innovationecosystem in Africa. 5. NGOs and the public sector are increasingly active in the soil health and soil fertility ecosystem in Kenya and more actively looking to the private sector through #publicprivatepartnerships to assist in accelerating and scaling the impact of these innovators. Explore a more detailed analysis of the presentation in the pdf below. And a big thank you to all the other speakers and presenters: Parmesh Shah salim Kinyimu Boniface Akuku Ermias Aynekulu Betemariam (CIFOR-ICRAF) Jeremy Cordingley (Crop Nutrition Laboratory Services (Cropnuts)) Lilian Wanjiru Sriram Bharatam (Kuza Biashara) Patrick Sampo (Shamba Pride) Esther Van de Voort (Yara International) #agbase #agtechs #soilhealth #data #emergingmarkets #insights

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Excited to be addressing a crucial challenge at this year's summit: The Climate Crisis. In Zambia, where we've witnessed some of the worst droughts in modern history, the impact on agriculture, economy, and energy has been profound. But here's the question we're tackling head-on: How can young people in Zambia contribute to combating this climate crisis? We believe that empowering youth is key to finding sustainable solutions. Whether it's through innovation in renewable energy, promoting sustainable agriculture practices, or advocating for climate-smart policies, young Zambians have the power to drive change. #ClimateAction #YouthEmpowerment #Zambia #Sustainability #GreenFuture

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This piece: "To address challenges like recent floods and soil degradation, focusing on improving soil health is key. Initiating soil testing and profiling can guide targeted interventions effectively." Sometimes, we must accept nature's course, as floods cannot be entirely controlled by soil improvements. Instead, forecasting heavy rains and implementing water management techniques can help prevent the damage caused by flooding. Techniques to combat land degradation, such as trenches and terracing, can also reduce the severity of floods. It is important to remember that floods, aside from those originating from lakes or oceans, primarily stem from high mountains, providing a clue to addressing many flooding issues.

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Mercy Corps AgriFrin is supporting Farm to Market Alliance to educate farmers on the importance of practicing Climate Smart Agriculture. Judith Munyasa, one of the farmers from Bungoma County narrates her story in a voice resonating with the strength of someone deeply connected to the land she tills. Her story begins in a community facing a crisis—a climate altering; trees vanishing, and farming practices struggling to sustain but ends with her farm becoming a classroom. "My dream is to continue empowering farmers," she asserts, "I trained over 800 farmers, sharing the knowledge that transformed my land. "Her teachings echoed the wisdom gained from Farm to Market Alliance, revolutionizing the agricultural landscape and empowering the community. " Through CA, IPM, ISFM and agroforestry," Judith explains, "my yields soared. My harvest has increased by 150% since adopting these practices." The increased yield wasn't just on paper. Judith's income mirrored her bountiful harvests. "My income tripled," she states, her voice filled with satisfaction. "It's not just about profit; it's about stability for my family and my community." In Judith's narrative, the story isn't just about farming; it's about sowing seeds of change. Her dedication to Sustainable CSA practices, education, and community empowerment embodies a vision for a greener, more sustainable future. To learn more about how Smallholder farmers like Judith are reaping great returns on their investment through practicing Climate Smart Agriculture, click the link https://lnkd.in/dFPubuUZ #ClimateAction #Sustainability #MercyCorpsAgrifFin

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Following our last workshop with small-scale farmers and household producers in the Western Cape Province, under the theme "Understanding the South African food systems." Here's what the participants had to say. #foodsovereignty #agroecology #AgrarianReform #landrights #Genderequality #SPP #surpluspeopleproject Afrikagrupperna

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New Interim Forest Stewardship Standard validates responsible forest management in Ghana Read more: https://buff.ly/3V0H72V Forest Stewardship Council #Africa #Ghana #ForestManagement #Environment #Economy #Sustainability

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Kenya's agricultural initiatives target increased production of sunflower, palm oil, and canola. In 2023, 70 tonnes of sunflower seeds were procured, 40 tonnes distributed to farmers, and 40 tonnes allocated for seed multiplication. The Agriculture and Food Authority distributed 500 metric tonnes of seeds. With annual consumption exceeding 900,000 metric tonnes, efforts aim to reduce reliance on imports, boosting local economies. Kakuzi Plc plans to capitalize on Kenya's agricultural sector growth. #EdibleOil, #EdibleOilValueChain, #Government, #Kenya

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#EmpoweringAgriculture: Farm to Feed and Renew Capital's Strategic Leap in Kenya Farm to Feed has secured funding from Renew Capital to revolutionize Kenya's food system. This partnership aims to reduce food loss, increase farmer incomes, and enhance food accessibility through tech-driven solutions. Strategic Impact and Market Dynamics: 🌱 Farm to Feed's platform optimizes logistics, aggregates supply and demand, and enhances customer interaction, creating new revenue streams for farmers. 🌱 Renew Capital's investment aligns with its strategy of supporting growth-oriented founders with a social impact, catalyzing further investments in agri-tech. 🌱 The enhanced accessibility of nutritious food could shift consumer preferences towards healthier options, influencing market trends. Innovation and Technological Advances: 🚜 Farm to Feed's tech-enabled platform leverages data analytics to optimize logistics, ensuring minimal waste and better market access for farmers. 🚜 Real-time data and insights help farmers improve productivity and reduce environmental impact. 🚜 The platform's user-friendly features promote widespread adoption, setting new standards for supply chain management in agriculture. Investor Insights and Recommendations: 🌍 Emerging Market Potential: Look for opportunities in agri-tech startups addressing inefficiencies and promoting sustainability. 🌍 Sustainability as a Value Driver: Companies prioritizing environmental and social impact are likely to gain a competitive edge. 🌍 Long-term Growth Prospects: Consider the scalability of such platforms and their potential to transform entire industries. The Farm to Feed and Renew Capital partnership sets a new benchmark for sustainable agricultural development in Kenya. Investors who recognize the value of such innovations will be well-positioned to capitalize on this transformative shift. Join us at Market Unwinded, where we don't just track trends - we anticipate the future. Read More: https://lnkd.in/g6xj3BNM #FarmToFeed #RenewCapital #AgriTech #SustainableAgriculture #MarketUnwinded #InvestmentTrends #FoodSecurity #KenyaAgriculture

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NEWS AFRICA Ethiopia: Apiculture for Socio-Economic Expansion Ethiopia's apiculture sector holds immense potential for economic growth and environmental sustainability, according to agricultural expert Miftah Birru. He highlighted that hive products like honey, bee-wax, pollen, and royal jelly contribute significantly to economic development, with Ethiopian honey in high demand due to its medicinal qualities. Beekeeping, a sustainable agricultural practice, empowers small-scale farmers and promotes environmental conservation. Despite its potential, the sector faces challenges such as inadequate technology, pests, and deforestation. Miftah emphasized the need for a comprehensive apiculture development policy, improved management practices, and education to enhance productivity and quality, thereby benefiting local and international markets.

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We prioritize practices that regenerate #ecosystems, fostering long-term health and #abundance for future #generations. It's not just about maximizing short-term gains, but building a #foundation for a thriving future.

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