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The report analyzes the gap between the supply and demand of climate finance in African agrifood systems, drawing on CPI's experience with 23 agribusinesses and 17 finance vehicles. It identifies a systemic misalignment where investors prioritize risk-adjusted returns and export-oriented cash crops, while enterprises often operate across the entire value chain and focus on staple crops essential for food security. The document argues that while enterprise-level technical assistance is helpful, closing the investment gap requires vehicle-level interventions that better price risk and align mandates with market realities. Key findings highlight a geographic concentration of capital in Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda, and a disconnect between the upstream focus of finance vehicles and the end-to-end operations of agribusinesses.

The HimGra® pilot project in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district transforms degraded, rocky Himalayan slopes into productive land by cultivating a climate-resilient grass for sustainable textiles. Managed by women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and supported by the Dev UK (Uttarakhand) Foundation, the initiative reduces soil erosion and provides diversified income for marginalized communities. The project integrates grassroots innovation with global luxury fashion markets and is undergoing independent impact assessments to validate its carbon and soil regeneration outcomes.

Biosuroeste is a 600-hectare 'agroecological lighthouse' in Colombia's Southwestern Antioquia that transforms land recovered from conflict into a living laboratory for regenerative development. The site implements two primary productive systems—an edible forest and a livestock system using adaptive rotational grazing—designed to mirror the scale of local family farms (0.5–15 ha). These systems demonstrate that environmental restoration and productivity are not competing goals, with the livestock system achieving 40% higher meat production per hectare than the Colombian national average. In 2025, the park provided training to over 2,500 producers, students, and rural families, promoting a 'scaling deep' approach to agroecological transformation by reshaping local values and relationships with nature.

The report argues that capital mobilization for African agrifood systems is hindered by a systemic misalignment between the risk-return mandates of climate finance vehicles and the operational realities of agribusinesses. Drawing on a portfolio of 17 finance vehicles and 23 enterprises, the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) finds that effective investment requires active intermediation, demand-side intelligence in vehicle design, and TA calibrated to specific investor screening criteria. It highlights a particular gap in financing for food crop economies, which are often overlooked in favor of export-oriented cash crops. The report recommends that donors fund coordination infrastructure, integrate pre-investment TA into vehicle structures, and support blended finance mechanisms that combine cash and food crop investments to enhance food security.

African ClimateTech has grown significantly, with funding increasing from $206 million in 2016 to over $1.5 billion in 2025, now accounting for nearly 40% of all disclosed venture funding on the continent. However, this growth is highly concentrated: the top 10 companies raised as much as all other companies combined, and Energy accounts for roughly 65% of total funding. The report argues that the ecosystem is not a single market but a collection of applications maturing at different speeds. Energy Generation has reached 'Early Maturity,' while Mobility & Transport is in 'Late Frenzy.' Conversely, Water Access and Built Materials remain in 'Irruption.' A critical finding is that financial maturity, rather than technological readiness, is the primary constraint, with significant gaps in early-stage equity and working capital. The report advocates for 'tailored capital stacks' that combine grants, equity, and debt based on the specific maturity stage of each application.

European agriculture's heavy reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertiliser, produced primarily from natural gas, creates a direct link between energy price shocks and food costs. Analysis of 17 EU member states from 2019-2024 reveals that EUR 16.4 billion was spent on fertiliser that was never taken up by crops, with EUR 6.1 billion spent on the embedded natural gas for that wasted input. Environmental damage from synthetic nitrogen application during this period is estimated at EUR 233.7 billion, dominated by water pollution. The report argues that reducing synthetic nitrogen use by up to 43% through precision management and legume integration could save farmers up to EUR 5.08 billion annually and significantly reduce gas dependency. Modeling shows that the post-Ukraine invasion energy crisis pushed wheat prices up by approximately 22%, establishing a lasting structural link between energy and food prices.

WWF advocates for the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP), Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), and ISO to refine their standards to incentivize continued corporate action even when companies struggle to meet targets, particularly regarding scope 3 emissions. Using McDonald's as an example of transparency, WWF suggests that companies should be honest about shortfalls while recommitting to long-term net-zero goals and investing in supply chain resilience.

Germany's coffee industry, worth EUR 20 billion annually, faces significant risks as over 98% of its imports originate from countries highly or moderately vulnerable to climate change. Climate-induced supply shocks led to a 43% increase in roasted coffee prices for German consumers in 2025. To counter this, Germany utilizes climate finance through bodies like GIZ and BMZ to fund adaptation projects, such as agroforestry and regenerative techniques, in producing regions. Examples include the Yayu Forest Biosphere Reserve project in Ethiopia and the Coffee++ initiative in Asia and Africa, which aim to stabilize yields and diversify supply sources to reduce dependence on volatile markets like Brazil and Vietnam.

The guide assesses ten regenerative and regenerative-principle food labels, finding significant variation in their requirements. It highlights that some labels allow toxic pesticides and that the most reliable standards—specifically USDA Organic and those built upon it—combine strict chemical prohibitions with robust verification and soil health practices. The analysis distinguishes between 'threshold' programs with fixed standards and 'pathway' programs that support incremental farmer improvement.

The report identifies the livestock sector as a primary economic pillar and a major source of methane emissions in Paraguay. It argues that increasing productivity through genetic improvement, regenerative pasture management, and silvopastoral systems can simultaneously reduce emission intensity and increase profitability. The document highlights the need for integrated public policies, innovative green financing, and better local data to meet Paraguay's NDC 3.0 goals.

The report finds that while significant financial flows enter the Cerrado, the current financial architecture fails to align agricultural funding with sustainability and zero-deforestation goals. Subsidized sustainable credit represents only 5.7% of total rural credit in the biome between 2020/21 and 2023/24, and is highly concentrated among large producers and a few financial institutions. The Matopiba region is particularly vulnerable, concentrating over 55% of the biome's deforestation (2013–2022) while relying heavily on Constitutional Financing Funds (FCFs), which often lack transparent sustainability criteria. Blended finance instruments show potential through risk mitigation and flexible terms but remain limited in scale compared to the economic incentives driving land conversion. The authors recommend improving transparency via the Brazilian Sustainable Taxonomy (TSB), expanding the role of sustainable credit, and fostering financial innovation to mobilize private capital.

The FSF ACCT is a blended finance programme targeting cocoa and coffee supply chains in 10 countries. It combines a USD 200 million investment facility for pre-harvest working capital loans with a USD 12 million Technical Assistance Facility (TAF). The programme aims to mitigate 8.47 million tCO2e and benefit over 8.7 million people over 15 years by promoting agroforestry and regenerative agriculture.

The RCF-DCF Project is a USD 425 million initiative designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Brazil's Cerrado by providing low-interest crop finance to soy farmers who commit to deforestation- and conversion-free (DCF) production. Managed by Sustainable Investment Management Limited (SIM), the project utilizes a Luxembourg-based RCF Impact Fund and co-investment vehicles to issue 'green' Certificados de Recebíveis do Agronegócio (CRAs) backed by Cédulas de Produto Rural (CPRs). The project aims to protect 379,949 hectares of native vegetation and avoid approximately 25.58 million tCO2eq over its 20-year lifespan. It targets medium-sized farms and prioritizes female-owned operations to promote gender equality in the agribusiness sector.

The report finds that while significant financial flows reach the Cerrado, particularly in the MATOPIBA region, the current architecture fails to align agricultural finance with zero-deforestation goals. Sustainable subsidized credit represents only 5.7% of total rural credit in the biome and is highly concentrated among large producers and a few financial institutions. In MATOPIBA, Constitutional Financing Funds (FCFs) provide 62% of subsidized credit but lack transparency regarding sustainability criteria. Blended-finance instruments show promise through risk-mitigation and value chain partnerships but remain limited in scale due to high Brazilian interest rates, regulatory complexity for foreign investors, and the strong economic incentive for land conversion. The authors recommend improving transparency via the Brazilian Sustainable Taxonomy (BST), increasing the share of sustainability-linked public credit, and scaling innovative blended structures to mobilize private capital.

The briefing outlines strategies to mobilize domestic and international capital for Brazil's land-use sector, specifically focusing on the restoration of degraded pastures. It highlights the limitations of existing credit lines like ABC Recovery and proposes a combination of blended finance, risk-mitigation instruments (such as TCX and RCF), and technical assistance to achieve large-scale regenerative land use. The document details government targets, including the National Program for the Recovery of Degraded Pastures (PNCPD) and the Caminho Verde program, while emphasizing the need for stronger supply chains for native seedlings and better coordination between financial institutions and the real economy.

Agriculture contributes roughly one-quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions, with nitrogen fertilizer production, distribution, and use generating an estimated 1.31 gigatons of CO2-equivalent annually. While low-emission solutions like renewable-powered electrolysis exist, high costs and fragmented supply chains prevent scaling, as farmers cannot absorb price premiums and food companies lack direct mechanisms to fund producers. To bridge this gap, RMI and the Center for Green Market Activation (GMA) are launching a pilot book-and-claim system. This allows food and beverage companies to purchase Environmental Attribute Certificates (EACs) to claim verified emissions reductions toward Scope 3 targets, providing producers with the revenue certainty needed to finance capital-intensive green ammonia projects without disrupting conventional farmer procurement.

The report finds that agricultural methane is a 'systemic blind spot' for major global investors. Despite significant financial exposure to high-emitting agrifood companies, most of the 25 investors analysed have no standalone methane policies or targets, often folding methane into broader CO2-equivalent frameworks. The analysis highlights that a small number of investors, including Vanguard, BlackRock, and Fidelity Investments, account for a disproportionate share of financed methane emissions. While some companies like Danone and Marfrig have set methane targets, others, such as Nestlé, have withdrawn from collaborative initiatives like the Dairy Methane Action Alliance. The report warns of increasing regulatory, transition, and reputational risks, particularly in the EU, and calls for investors to align with the Global Methane Pledge to reduce emissions by 30% by 2030.

The African Climate Foundation and Dalberg developed the NDC Investment Planner (NIP) to address the gap between climate ambition and investment in Africa. While many African countries have submitted second and third-generation NDCs, only about 11% of the continent's annual climate-finance need is met. The NIP provides a three-stage process—Identify, Evaluate, and Select and Act—to move from broad policy frameworks to investable portfolios. It evaluates opportunities based on 'investment potential' and 'economic transformation potential' to help governments prioritise actions, refine analyses, and prepare projects for funding.

The report examines country platforms (CPs) as vehicles to integrate climate finance with national development goals in emerging economies. It argues that CPs must be country-led and grounded in macro-fiscal analysis to avoid debt vulnerabilities and ensure social inclusivity. Using the South African Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) as a primary example, the document outlines criteria for effectiveness—including whole-of-government approaches and credible project pipelines—and proposes a four-quadrant analytical framework to guide their design. It also highlights the role of philanthropy in funding early-stage technical work and the necessity of overcoming structural path dependencies to achieve genuine economic diversification.

The Global Resilience Partnership (GRP) utilizes a tiered 'Innovation Challenge' model to fund and scale bottom-up resilience solutions across the Global South. Since 2014, GRP has invested over US$45 million, supporting 102 solutions in more than 30 countries and benefiting over 7 million people. The 2026 portfolio focuses on three primary challenges: RAIN (nature-positive agriculture), RISE (informal urban settlements), and TECH (AI for humanitarian response). GRP provides a structured pipeline—Idea, Seed, Scale, and Amplify—combining financial grants with non-financial support such as mentoring and a Leadership Academy to make local innovators investment-ready.