Our first-mile networks provide smallholders access to value chains and financial services. They are also the conduit for many of the climate-smart solutions involving technologies, advice, and finance. First-mile entrepreneurs help ensure that innovations meet local farmers' needs.
We aim to deepen and strengthen the ‘safety-nets of smallholders in Africa and Asia through market-led upscaling of agricultural insurance solutions. The innovative products aim to reduce risks associated with climate, weather, pests, and diseases. As a result, smallholders become more productive and resilient to climate-change-related shocks.
We follow a market-oriented approach, and its key features are catalyzing public-private partnerships along the seed and grain value chains, building the capacity of key seed stakeholders, identifying bottlenecks and solutions, and improving the policy environment.
Our key areas of expertise are Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), technology and Intellectual Property (IP) transfer, plant pathology, agronomy and crop breeding. We generate products that are accessible, affordable and remunerative to smallholder farmers in developing countries.
Through applied policy-oriented research in agriculture, we put forward options and recommendations for improving policies, laws, and regulations as well as their implementation. We also strive to strengthen the policy analytical capacity of stakeholders in Africa and Asia.
