Smallholder Farmers: Scaling What Works

​Event Description

Smallholder farmers are at the center of global food systems and climate resilience, yet they are often the least supported when it comes to scaling solutions. While many promising models exist, from regenerative agriculture to climate-smart practices, the real challenge lies in implementation at scale.

This discussion focuses on what it takes to move beyond pilots and deliver lasting impact for smallholder farmers. What are the barriers that prevent solutions from reaching millions of farmers, particularly in least developed countries? How do we design approaches that are practical, affordable, and resilient in real-world conditions?

We will also explore the role of finance, including the significant gap in funding to support the transition to regenerative agriculture, and the potential of outcomes-based financing to better align incentives and results. Bringing together practitioners, funders, and system leaders, this session will examine how to build models that are not only effective, but also scalable, inclusive, and sustainable.

​Speakers

• ​Arti Dhar is Co-Founder of Farmers for Forests, advancing agroforestry through carbon finance and AI-driven monitoring.

• ​Shantanu Agarwal is Founder and CEO of Mati Carbon, advancing carbon removal and smallholder farmer livelihoods.

• ​Tonthoza Uganja is Founder of Sustainable Farming Solutions, designing outcome-based incentives for scalable land restoration.

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Discussion Questions
What are the biggest barriers to scaling solutions for smallholder farmers, and how can they be overcome?
How can we design approaches that work in practice for farmers, not just in pilot settings?
What financing models can better support smallholders, particularly in transitioning to regenerative agriculture?
How can outcomes-based approaches be used to drive both impact and scale in smallholder systems?