Climate Day: Unlocking Capital for Regenerative Agriculture - Financing Solutions for Smallholder Farmers

This session tackles the urgent challenge of financing smallholder farmer transitions to organic and regenerative agriculture in emerging markets, where the costs of certification, technical assistance, and inputs often fall on those least able to afford them. Speakers will draw on real-world case studies, including work with more than 1,000 smallholder farmers and leadership from the Regenerative Organic Certified community, to map out the spectrum of financing mechanisms that support transition.

The conversation will explore approaches including grants, equity, concessional debt, blended finance, and purchase order funding, along with the practical tradeoffs of each. Attendees will gain lessons from the field on structuring farmer-first models, de-risking adoption through input credit and technical assistance, and building farmer creditworthiness over time.

The session will also examine what comes next as bilateral aid and USAID funding recede, highlighting emerging funds and financing approaches that can lower the cost of capital for those closest to smallholder farmers, prevent backsliding into conventional practices, and keep farmer-led climate transitions moving forward.