Climate-smart agriculture: the new normal

This  is part of a 5 article series about our key takeaways at the 2024 World Agri-Tech event series in San Francisco, São Paulo, and London.

The atmosphere was different at this year’s World Agri-Tech summits. While previous years focused on theoretical discussions about climate resilience, the 2024 summit series (San Francisco, São Paulo, and London) showcased something new: real-world transformation in action.

The discussions underlined that resilience is no longer a future goal but a present-day necessity as farmers and agribusinesses contend with rising climate pressures. Healthy soils and carbon sequestration emerged as foundational strategies to not only mitigate climate impact but act as a value creation asset, something we’ve long to see (and are quite happy about).

Soil Health is a bridge between sustainability and profitability

The evolution in summit discussions was clear. Sessions no longer centered on making the case for climate-smart agriculture – instead, they focused entirely on implementation and scale. This shift reflects the broader changes happening across the industry, particularly in Europe where regulations are impacting decisions.

Participants emphasized the value of regenerative agriculture practices—such as cover cropping, reduced tillage, and crop diversification—for both environmental and economic resilience. These practices align with climate mitigation strategies, capturing more carbon in the soil while enhancing crop yields. The discussion also highlighted the European Union’s Green Deal and Farm to Fork strategy, which promote carbon sequestration as a means to achieve net-zero targets by 2035 through land-use policies and incentives. These frameworks are encouraging a shift toward practices that benefit both the climate and the farmer’s bottom line by boosting soil fertility and water retention while providing income through carbon credits.

Ag is not a one-man army

Another key takeaway was the recognition that no single player can drive transformation alone. Success will require collaboration across the entire supply chain, from farmers and agribusinesses to policy makers and financial institutions. Big tech companies and financial services are increasingly stepping into the agri-food space, helping to bridge gaps with data-driven tools and innovative finance models. For example, tools showcased at the summit by partners like Microsoft and Bayer integrate weather data, crop health monitoring, and AI-driven forecasts to optimize farm-level decisions and enhance climate resilience.

Looking ahead

The summits also reflected on the challenges ahead: implementing these changes at scale won’t be easy. Companies and industry leaders acknowledged the complexities of meeting science-based targets (SBTi), underscoring the need for better data infrastructure and decision-making frameworks that work in practice, not just in theory. While Europe is leading with policy-driven change, other regions are beginning to follow, adopting carbon farming initiatives and innovative insurance and finance models to incentivize adoption.

Ultimately, the message was clear: resilience in agriculture is not just about going over climate shifts—it’s about leading the way in shaping an actual future. With increasing participation from non-traditional sectors like finance and tech, agriculture is transforming from a passive participant into an active agent of change in the global fight against climate change.

The integration of carbon markets with day-to-day farm operations is accelerating. While it is still a challenge, verification processes and more streamlined market access for farmers are on the radar by next year’s end. The focus on measurement and verification is intensifying. Sessions highlighted the industry’s continuous move toward robust protocols for measuring climate resilience – a crucial step for scaling up adoption.

Most importantly, the definition of “climate-smart” is evolving. It’s no longer just about reducing environmental impact; it’s about building systems that are both environmentally and economically resilient.