Case study #18: Reorienting finance to support farmers in promoting food systems adaptation and resilience
Headline: Financing a forest-positive future: Transitioning to sustainable cattle, soy and bioeconomy production
Context: Reducing deforestation and promoting sustainable agricultural production are essential for protecting ecosystems, mitigating climate change, and building resilient agricultural systems in South America’s critical biomes.
Partners: TFA, UNEP, TNC
Duration: Launched in 2021 and ongoing
Location: Amazon, Cerrado and Chaco. Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay.
Impact Achieved:
Description
IFACC aims to secure $10 billion in commitments and $1 billion in disbursements by 2025 to support sustainable agricultural practices in the Amazon, Cerrado and Chaco. By collaborating with companies, banks, and investors, IFACC promotes sustainable business models for soy, beef and bioeconomy that expand production without the need for further land conversion, focusing on expanding agriculture onto already-cleared lands. By October 2024, IFACC had grown to include 22 signatories, encompassing financial institutions and agribusiness value chain companies. IFACC is driving significant shifts towards deforestation-free practices, protecting ecosystems, and restoring native vegetation, thereby fostering resilient, nature-positive economies in South America.
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The Food Systems Call to Action is a global initiative that urges non-state actors and governments to take immediate steps to transform food systems by 2030. It highlights the urgent need for resilient, sustainable, and equitable approaches that support food security, protect nature, and address climate change. Through targeted actions and principles, the Call to Action emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity—ensuring that farmers, frontline workers, Indigenous communities, and other key players are at the forefront of decision-making and implementation.
The Rwanda Fortified Whole Grain Program, launched in 2021 and supported by The Rockefeller Foundation, focuses on incorporating fortified whole grain (FWG) maize flour into school feeding programmes to enhance students’ nutritional intake.
The SEKEM Initiative, established almost 50 years ago, focuses on regenerative development through biodynamic and organic agriculture, along with socio-economic and cultural initiatives.
Danone, a global leader in the food industry, has launched an ambitious initiative to reduce methane emissions from its fresh milk supply chain by 30% by 2030, against a 2020 baseline, aligning with the Global Methane Pledge introduced at COP26.
Context: Reducing chemical use and soil disturbance is essential to preserve biodiversity, improve soil health, and promote more sustainable farming practices for long-term agricultural resilience. Partners: The Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN), Anglian Water, The Country Trust. Duration: Ongoing (The case study does not specify exact start and end dates, but it reflects changes made […]
