Collaborative Strategies for Sustainable Agriculture Transition

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐞. 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬. 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐢𝐥, 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐧; 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐟. India already hosts 19% of the global population but holds only 2.4% of the world's land. We cannot afford single-use ecosystems. Dual-purpose innovations like these let us produce food and power from the same soil without compromise. India’s journey toward becoming a global clean energy powerhouse doesn't rest only on megaprojects or capital-intensive solar parks. Sometimes, the most powerful models emerge from the most grounded realities like a 16-acre farm in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, where crops grow under a solar canopy, and electricity flows into the state grid above. This isn’t about one success story but it’s about a national opportunity. As India aims to achieve 280 GW of solar energy by 2030, we must rethink land use, farmer incomes, and infrastructure synergy. 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐜𝐬 - 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥-𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐩 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 offers India a sustainable, scalable path to energy security, rural employment, and climate resilience. The farm generates approximately 25,000 kWh of electricity daily, fed directly into the state grid, while producing high-value crops like strawberries, broccoli, tomatoes, and lettuce in the partial shade. This dual model has emerged as a tangible response to India’s clean energy targets without displacing agriculture, a growing concern in many ground-mounted solar parks. What we saw on Anand Jain’s farm was proof-of-concept: elevated solar panels generating 25,000 kWh daily, while crops like lettuce and tomatoes thrive beneath. But imagine this replicated across thousands of acres in Punjab, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan, where sunlight is abundant and farming needs economic revival. Government schemes like PM-KUSUM and initiatives from MNRE offer the right framework. But what we now need is collaboration: 🔸 Corporate framing where agribusinesses, EPC companies, and solar developers co-invest in farm-based solar infrastructure. 🔸 Fintech and NBFC involvement to offer tailored financing for farmer-led solar adoption. 🔸 R&D-driven partnerships with institutions like IITs, IARI, and NABARD to refine crop-solar coexistence models. 🔸 Startups innovating with IoT, panel cleaning automation, energy storage, and precision farming under solar sheds. 🔸 State and central governments pushing policies for faster PPA approvals, feed-in tariffs, and awareness drives. The stakes go beyond sustainability. It’s about making India a global leader in agritech and clean energy integration, driving rural economic growth, and showing the world that development doesn’t have to come at the cost of nature or people. #agritech #solarenergy #indianfarmers #agricultureland #fintech #nbfc #solarpanel #punjab #gujarat #rajasthan

Understanding the J-Curve and S-Curve in Organic & Natural Farming: Why These Two Curves Shape the Future of Regenerative Agriculture When farmers shift to organic or natural farming, they often face two invisible forces: The J-Curve — a temporary dip in yields as the soil rebuilds its biology. The S-Curve — the way adoption spreads slowly at first, then rapidly, as trust grows in the community. In my latest article, I break down these curves in simple, visual terms—so even a novice can understand how organic transitions really work. More importantly, I explain how we can flatten the J-curve and accelerate the S-curve using: • Technology that rebuilds soil health and predicts risks • Support systems that reduce uncertainty for farmers • Market strategies that stabilize income during transition • Cluster-level planning that builds collective confidence • Branding and value chains that reward sustainable farming When these elements come together, organic and natural farming stop being a leap of faith—they become a clear, confident pathway to resilient incomes, healthier soils, and thriving rural communities. If you’re working in regenerative agriculture, sustainability, extension systems, policy, or agri-markets—this will be especially relevant. #OrganicFarming #NaturalFarming #RegenerativeAgriculture #SoilHealth #SustainableFarming #Agroecology #FarmerCentric #AgTech #FarmersFirst #RuralDevelopment #ClimateResilience #FutureOfFarming #AgricultureInnovation #FPOs #ValueChains #SustainableMarkets #AgriPolicy #GreenTransition #HealthySoilsHealthyLives #FoodSystems Centre for Sustainable Agriculture | Deccan Development Society | Grameen Academy | Sahaja Aharam

Just back from Brazil's #PreCOP30 and #BridgingtheGap - a convening of food systems leaders, climate, finance, and policy experts. If we’re serious about meeting the #ParisDeclaration, food can’t stay on the side of the plate. Despite receiving less than 3% of climate finance, our food system drives a 1/3 of greenhouse gas emissions. To unlock real investment, I think we need three shifts: #mindset, #data, and #architecture. 1. Mindset Food systems are cross-cutting—health, finance, climate, education. Acting in silos keeps solutions small. At The Rockefeller Foundation, we’ve launched a $100 million effort to accelerate the regenerative transition—anchored in public procurement and school meals. We’re aligning farmers, scientists, and Ministries of Finance, Agriculture, and Education to make regeneration a national, not niche, play. 2. Data We must speak the language of finance. The transition from business as usual to regenerative food systems will cost ~$430 billion a year—less than repurposing two-thirds of the >$600 billion now spent on ag subsidies. And the risk of waiting is getting real. The Bank for International Settlements warns that climate shocks threaten the solvency of borrowers—meaning supply-chain risk is financial risk. Investing in food resilience isn’t charity; it’s smart risk management. 3. Architecture We need a system where capital flows to those driving change across three levels: - Upstream: policies and procurement that create demand. - Midstream: blended finance and guarantees to de-risk innovation. - Downstream: inclusive finance so #farmers, #SME's, #women, and #youth can scale. Philanthropy must be catalytic—every dollar unlocking ten more from private and public sources. And to co-invest effectively, we need shared metrics that measure what matters: nutrition, equity, and resilience. If we don’t redesign how money moves to transition our food system, we’ll fail on climate—and on feeding our future. The world is looking to #COP30 and Brazil for solutions that work on both fronts. Thank you to the amazing thought leaders and innovators driving these discussions and showing what works on the ground. Incredible to see you in Santos: Joao Campari, Martina Fleckenstein, Sanjoo Malhotra, Federico Bellone, Matheus Alves Zanella, Fabrício Muriana, Juliana Medrado Tângari, Lieke Verhofstad, Nancy Aburto, PhD MS, Lasse Bruun, Patty Fong, Arend Kulenkampff, Elisabetta Recine, Saskia Sanders, Cecilia Seravalli Soares, Charlotte Pavageau, Sharon Gil, Aimée Christensen, Cristian Barrazueta., Pete Pearson.

𝗪𝗲'𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝘅 𝗶𝘁. Michael Grunwald's "We Are Eating the Earth" reveals a stark truth: our corn-soy monocultures are driving climate chaos. But the solution isn't just farming differently—it's growing different crops and building the infrastructure to support that shift. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲 Farmers want to diversify rotations with oats, small grains, and perennials. The science is clear: diversified rotations improve soil health, reduce input costs, and increase climate resilience. But here's the catch-22: Farmers won't grow oats without markets. Processors won't build mills without a supply. Meanwhile, 𝟵𝟱% 𝗼𝗳 𝗨𝗦 𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻. 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲 At DiversiFund.co, we deploy systems-level capital to bridge this gap:   • Processing and storage infrastructure   • Financial tools for regenerative transitions   • Data systems that de-risk new practices   • Natural asset development 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁 Green Acres Milling in Minnesota exemplifies what's possible. This farmer-owned facility will process 3 million bushels of oats annually, sourcing from a 120-mile radius and enabling crop diversification across tens of thousands of acres. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁? Every converted acre reduces nitrogen use by up to 40 pounds, improves water retention, breaks pest cycles, and sequesters carbon. It's profitable regeneration at scale. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 "𝙒𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚. 𝙒𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙮." The core challenge. By creating reliable markets for diverse crops, we make regenerative agriculture economically rational, not a choice between values and viability. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 For climate investors, this represents a rare convergence: financial returns with measurable environmental impact. We can build the missing infrastructure that transforms how America farms. Our goal is to deploy $100 million by 2026 to transition millions of acres to regenerative systems. Every new facility, every farmer partnership, every market we create moves us closer to a food system that sustains people, planet, and prosperity. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲 The path forward requires strategic capital that makes regenerative farming profitable on a large scale. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲: Where do you see the most significant opportunities in agricultural transformation? What barriers need addressing? Ready to explore how strategic investment can reshape our food system? 𝗟𝗲𝘁'𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁: 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼@𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱.𝗰𝗼 #RegenerativeAgriculture #ClimateInvesting #ImpactInvesting #FoodSystems #ClimateFinance #SustainableAgriculture #ClimateAction #ESGInvesting #SystemsChange

The agri-food system is at a pivotal moment—facing rising demand, climate pressures, resource constraints, and the urgent need to cut emissions. To build a resilient, future-proof food system, we must shift from extractive practices to regenerative agriculture at scale. 🚜 This is not just an opportunity—it’s a necessity. Our latest report, produced by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in collaboration with OP2B and supported by Carlsberg Group, lays out a bold roadmap for scaling regenerative agriculture across Europe. We identify four key drivers for success: 🔹 Sustainable Economics – Ensuring financial viability for farmers. 🔹 Cross-Value Chain Partnerships – Driving collaboration for real impact. 🔹 Standardized Metrics – Creating clear, outcome-based measurements. 🔹 Farmer Training – Equipping farmers with the knowledge and tools to transition. And one essential enabler: Supportive Policy Frameworks. Strong policy alignment is critical to accelerate adoption and ensure long-term success. 🌍 This is the time to act. We must move beyond pilot projects and fragmented efforts—working together to define clear standards, align policies, and create a system where regenerative farming thrives. 📖 Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/ezNHiJKn Grateful to my co-authors Casper Zulim de Swarte, Louise Berrebi, Jack Bugas, Peter Jonathan Jameson, Shalini Unnikrishnan, and to Simon Boas Hoffmeyer and Ema Radmilovic at Carlsberg Group for their contributions. 💡 What will it take to make regenerative agriculture the new standard? Let’s drive the conversation forward. 👇 #RegenerativeAgriculture #SustainableFarming #FutureOfFood #ClimateAction #AgricultureInnovation #RegenerativeAgriculture #SustainableFarming #FutureOfFood #ClimateAction #AgricultureInnovation #FoodSecurity #ResilientFoodSystems #SustainableAgriculture #FarmingForTheFuture #SoilHealth #Biodiversity #CarbonFarming #AgriTech #GreenTransition #SustainabilityLeadership #PolicyForChange #FarmersFirst #NatureBasedSolutions #CircularEconomy #AgriFoodTransformation Trine Filtenborg de Nully Mikkel Pedersen Hubertus Meinecke Jan Philipp Bender Eden Cottee-Jones Vuk Trifkovic Jesper Nielsen Andreas Husted Malby Jonas Sommer Lorentzen Gertie Find Laerkholm Thomas Møller Jensen Nanna Gelebo Fanny Grönlund (Sjöberg) David Sandberg

𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗨𝗞 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 £𝟭 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀, 𝗧𝗶𝗺 & 𝗧𝗶𝗺’𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Timothy Coates and Tim Field are two of my favourite people; they aren’t just farmers. They’re systems thinkers who’ve built a movement from 10 farms to over 170 in the Northeast Cotswold Farmer Cluster. They’re demonstrating how farmers can produce food and deliver nature-based services, getting paid for both. And they’re not just talking. They’re doing it: 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: proven by the success of the Cotswolds farm cluster and FarmED. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: tackling drought and flood risks with solutions that are 10x cheaper than concrete, now backed by infrastructure players like Network Rail. 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: working with Rothamsted, The Open University, and Oxford University. 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆: aligning with the UK’s agricultural transition and resilience goals. 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲: shifting from maximising production to integrating with nature. I n this episode of the Rebalance Earth Podcast, Tim & Tim share how they are turning climate risk into commercial opportunity and why farmers, landowners, and investors should follow their lead. 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁. But as Tim & Tim prove, they can also be the first to benefit from solutions. ▶ Listen now https://lnkd.in/eEfhwgmw #RegenerativeFarming #NatureBasedSolutions #ClimateResilience #Collaboration #FutureOfFarming #SystemsThinking #FarmED

More positive steps for the agroecology and organic farming movements in E. Africa! 🌱Last week, Kenya launched the new 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗼𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰-𝟮𝟬𝟯𝟯 (𝗡𝗔𝗦) after an inclusive policy development process. 🌱Uganda’s National Agroecology Strategy is also on the doorstep! 🌱Tanzania’s National Ecological Organic Agriculture Strategy got a lot of attention at IFOAM - Organics Internationals Organic World Congress in Taiwan last week, after an inspiring, heartwarming, and at times hilarious, presentation by Mwatima Juma, Chairwoman TOAM TANZANIA ORGANIC AGRICULTURE MOVEMENT. 🌱And the East African Legislative Assembly has just signed a resolution with FAO recognizing agroecology as a strategic priority in the East African Community (EAC). This happened after a knowledge exchange where policy makers from several nations presented best practice, and the benefits of agroecology. Well done all, not least Kamwesige Mujuni Mtembei, Alex Lwakuba and Pierre Ferrand. All three multistakeholder, policy development processes have been supported by Biovision Foundation and Biovisions policy and advocacy team. Policy makers and civil society organization leaders from 8 eastern and southern African nations shared lessons learned. We summarized these in a toolkit after the lively days of exchange: https://lnkd.in/dH4KsWT6 Newest plan in Kenya! Big congratulations to the Kenyan Government, not least the Ministry of Agriculture of Kenya and PELUM Kenya Association, ISFAAKenya, Kenya Organic Agriculture Network (KOAN), and a host of actors who have been driving this process forward! The Strategy is a powerful response to challenges in food security, climate change impacts and environmental damage, and is a full spectrum plan, supporting farmers in transition, market development, social inclusivity, capacity building and elevates a Kenyan strength: local government initiatives to upscale agroecology. See the strategy here: https://lnkd.in/gRYKqFMx ISFAAKenya provides a quick overview here: https://lnkd.in/gRYKqFMx ISFAA calls the plan a “turning point in Kenya’s agricultural journey:” “It calls for a holistic transformation that goes beyond increasing yields to address the broader issues of ecological balance, social justice, and economic resilience. By promoting sustainable agricultural practices such as crop diversification, organic farming, and soil regeneration, the strategy aims to create a more balanced and self-sufficient food system. This transformation will be instrumental in reducing Kenya’s dependence on imported food, enhancing local economies, and building communities that are resilient to climate shocks.” #agroecology #organicfarming