Help get a grip on climate change
Climate change is likely to considerably reduce many crop yields. Smallholders in developing countries will probably suffer the most. Together with the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research* (FFAR), we are requesting research proposals to enhance climate-smart agriculture in India, Kenya, and Bangladesh.
Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) increases farm productivity, adapts crops and livestock to grow in changing climates, and mitigates greenhouse gas emissions. There are several types of CSA practices and technologies. However, their adoption by smallholders is low, particularly in developing countries.
“Barriers to smallholder adoption of CSA include poor access, limited knowledge, inability to take risks, weak financing mechanisms, and lack of rapidly attractive value propositions,” explains Yuan Zhou, our Head of Agricultural Policy.
National policies and regulations can increase the use of key CSA practices. Examples include subsidies and public incentives for technology uptake. Unfortunately, there is currently poor coordination between CSA policies and public institutions. Another problem is a lack of knowledge about what incentives can help change farmer behavior.
FFAR and our Foundation are calling for research proposals to improve this situation. The proposals should be for analyses that increase understanding of CSA policy and implementation across India, Kenya, and Bangladesh. This call seeks information on key CSA trends as well as country-specific case studies on incentive mechanisms and their national effectiveness.
The total award amount for a proposal is up to $300,000; multiple awards may be granted. The application deadline is November 3rd. Here are the full details.
“We need to develop better incentivization strategies to ensure farmers across the globe understand and have access to climate-smart agriculture technology and are adopting these practices on their farms,” says LaKisha Odom, scientific program director of FFAR’s Soil Health Challenge Area. “We are thrilled to partner with the Syngenta Foundation to fund research that supports the adoption of CSA, and positions agriculture as a leading force in tackling greenhouse gas emissions.”
“We are very happy to join forces with FFAR on this important research,” adds Yuan Zhou. “We expect that the knowledge, insights, and evidence generated will contribute to informing policy-making and better design of future CSA solutions in the developing world”.
Applications are welcome from all institutions of higher education, non-profit and for-profit organizations, government-affiliated researchers, and domestic and international organizations.
This request for proposals is part of AgMission, a partnership formed by FFAR, U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action, and the World Farmers’ Organisation to develop and implement climate-smart farming solutions.
Contact: Colleen Klemczewski, FFAR
This text is adapted from a media communiqué.
What does the Syngenta Foundation think about climate-smart, resilient agriculture? Read our 2021 paper.
*The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research builds public-private partnerships to fund bold research addressing big food and agriculture challenges. FFAR was established in the 2014 Farm Bill to increase public agriculture research investments, fill knowledge gaps, and complement USDA’s research agenda. FFAR’s model matches federal funding from Congress with private funding, delivering a powerful return on taxpayer investment. Through collaboration and partnerships, FFAR advances actionable science benefiting farmers, consumers, and the environment.
Twitter: @FoundationFAR / @RockTalking