Climate change is humanity’s biggest challenge; agriculture is particularly affected, given its dependency on weather and functioning ecosystems. In addition, while agriculture is greatly impacted by a changing climate, it is also one of the biggest drivers of climate change. Agriculture and land-use change account for roughly 25% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. There is hence an immediate need both to mitigate the effect of agriculture on global warming and for farming systems to adapt to non-mitigatable climate change. Smallholders in low- and middle-income countries are particularly exposed. Already producing low and erratic yields, and often disconnected from major input and output value chains, financial safety nets and extension services, they are uniquely vulnerable to the risks associated with climate change and the degradation of agricultural ecosystems.
In response to this urgent challenge, SFSA is including Climate-Smart, Resilient Agriculture (CSRA) as a core component of its renewed strategy. This decision highlights the need – and our determination – to help smallholders to deal better with the consequences of climate change.
SFSA is already 'Climate-Smart' in many ways: For instance, we engage in developing and delivering climate-smart genetics, index-based weather insurance products, tools for precision input use, water-efficient irrigation and energy-efficient mechanization. However, tackling the systemic challenge of climate change requires us to go beyond isolated interventions. We will now build solutions that improve the capacity of farming systems to mitigate and adapt to climate change in more systemic and sustainable ways.
Global Agricultural Technology Evaluator
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The Global Agricultural Technology Evaluator (GATE) is a web-based platform that validates climate-smart agricultural innovations, aiming to develop new markets for innovators and deliver high value for smallholders and local businesses in developing regions. GATE adopts a stage-gate model in validating innovations and ensures transparent governance systems in project management. Its focus is on delivering resilience and adaptive innovations to smallholders to improve their livelihoods in the context of climate change. GATE collaborates with the Evergreen Impact Platform (EIP) in India, smallholder farmers, value-chain actors, and other partners globally to achieve this goal.
Recently, GATE has improved its applicability in data collection, transmission, and management efficiencies by over 70% by integrating the SFSA Field Trial App. This app is a robust web and Android mobile application designed for field trial design implementation, data collection, and management.
A large number of agricultural innovations in digital tools, mechanization, nursery practices, farming practices, irrigation, and postharvest have been validated and delivered to over 2 million smallholder farmers across Bangladesh, Mali, Nigeria, and Senegal, thanks to the Farmers’ Hubs serving as the delivery channel for GATE-validated innovations.
Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa in Mali
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The project aims to promote climate-smart agricultural technologies through the use of Agriservices Centres, including CEMAs and Farmers' Hubs, as business models. We seek to enhance farmers' understanding of available technologies, encourage their adoption, and reduce rural youth unemployment. Its primary objective is to Accelerate the impact of CGIAR Agricultural Research on Climate by boosting productivity, production, and income for smallholders, while also enhancing their resilience to the negative effects of climate change.
The Global Agricultural Technology Evaluator (GATE) is a web-based platform that validates climate-smart agricultural innovations, aiming to develop new markets for innovators and deliver high value for smallholders and local businesses in developing regions. GATE adopts a stage-gate model in validating innovations and ensures transparent governance systems in project management. Its focus is on delivering resilience and adaptive innovations to smallholders to improve their livelihoods in the context of climate change. GATE collaborates with the Evergreen Impact Platform (EIP) in India, smallholder farmers, value-chain actors, and other partners globally to achieve this goal.
Recently, GATE has improved its applicability in data collection, transmission, and management efficiencies by over 70% by integrating the SFSA Field Trial App. This app is a robust web and Android mobile application designed for field trial design implementation, data collection, and management.
A large number of agricultural innovations in digital tools, mechanization, nursery practices, farming practices, irrigation, and postharvest have been validated and delivered to over 2 million smallholder farmers across Bangladesh, Mali, Nigeria, and Senegal, thanks to the Farmers’ Hubs serving as the delivery channel for GATE-validated innovations.