Food, Finance, and Climate: Nourishing People and Planet
Food systems are at the heart of climate, health, and livelihoods — but today they are under immense pressure. Smallholder farmers and fishers, who produce much of the world’s food, often struggle for fair incomes, financing, and access to sustainable markets. At the same time, food insecurity and malnutrition persist, while climate shocks threaten decades of progress. Locally-driven innovations — from regenerative agriculture and coastal conservation to fortified foods and indigenous “food as medicine” approaches — show what’s possible, but scaling them requires new financing models, equitable sales channels, and global attention.
This session will explore how blended finance, fair trade, and behavior-centered design can transform food systems into engines of resilience, nutrition, and justice. Together, we’ll ask: how do we ensure food nourishes both people and planet?
Speakers
Casey Harrison — Chief Sustainability Officer at Nuru International, with 15+ years’ experience in agriculture, climate resilience, and rural agribusiness development.
Estelle Koné — Founder & GP of Ster Impact, impact investor unlocking capital for African entrepreneurs with a background at Goldman Sachs and Wharton.
Jonathan Seefeldt — Executive Director of ATREE USA, connecting U.S. philanthropy with India’s environmental conservation and development priorities.
Natalie Petrulla — Senior Development Manager at Fairtrade America, supporting sustainable trade and global producer partnerships.
Temoi Rachel — Head of Global Development at Sanku, advancing nutrition and food fortification initiatives in Africa.
What to Expect
Empower smallholders – Discuss financing models, grants, and equitable markets for smallholder farmers and fishers.
Advance regenerative models – Explore agroecology, regenerative agriculture, and ecosystem restoration as climate-smart pathways.
Link food and health – Highlight “food as medicine,” fortified foods, and nutrition strategies for climate resilience.
Spotlight global-local connections – Share lessons from the Himalayas, India, Africa, and the U.S. on adapting interdisciplinary models.
Harness innovation – Examine the role of AI, community-led conservation, and behavior-centered design in scaling solutions.
Why Join?
Reframe food systems as central to solving climate, health, and equity challenges.
Learn from grassroots and global innovations driving systemic change.
Share your own strategies for financing, markets, and resilience.
Walk away with practical ideas to connect food, finance, and climate action.
Who Should Attend?
Smallholder farmer networks, fishers, and grassroots food leaders.
Funders and policymakers shaping food, climate, and nutrition agendas.
Innovators in blended finance, regenerative agriculture, and food value chains.
Anyone committed to building food systems that sustain communities and ecosystems.