Increasing Our Global Food Supply By Empowering Smallholder Farmers

It is predicted that the total population will rise to 9.8 billion by 2050.

That’s another 2 billion mouths to feed. 

Yet we are already struggling to meet the ever growing demands for food at our current rate of consumption.

With unexpected circumstances such as the war in Ukraine, COVID-19 and a multitude of climate shocks, we have seen just how vulnerable our food systems really are. 

In 2020, between 720 million and 811 million people faced perpetual hunger. This figure is going to grow if we don’t act fast.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) states that food production will need to rise by 50% before 2030 in order to meet the growing demand.

So how can we possibly keep up with this?

Supporting smallholder farmers to improve production will make up a significant portion of the shortfall if done correctly.

Land comes at a premium, and large farming operations are already achieving near maximal yields. It is therefore a smarter option to elevate the foundations we already have in place and increase the productivity and yield of the millions of smallholder farmers who already contribute to the agricultural value-chain across the world.

Not only will this help strengthen our food systems, but it will also provide smallholder farmers the opportunity to boost their livelihoods and communities - helping lift more people out of poverty.

A great example of this is Vietnam, a country that once had 58% of its population living in poverty, but has drastically decreased this figure down to 14%.

This is thanks to transforming its smallholder farming sector and becoming the world's second largest rice exporter.

Smallholder farmers are key to the future of food.

But we must prioritise the needs of smallholder farmers high on the political agenda and high on the list of recipients for global investments. Because thriving smallholder farmers create a thriving sustainable and inclusive global food system that will help feed our ever increasing population.

What is Climate Edge doing to help?

We are on a relentless mission to connect smallholder farmers based in Sub-Saharan Africa with agribusinesses that have the skills and expertise to help them increase their yields, productivity and livelihoods. 

We do this via our Farmer Engagement Platform which utilises SMS communication channels to reach smallholders, an accessible and affordable solution that meets the farmer’s needs best. 

We’re currently connecting 1,500 organisations to over 500,000 smallholder farmers who are receiving daily guidance on how to improve their current practices. 

This advice is anything from how to navigate upcoming weather threats, fertiliser guidance and accessing agricultural markets. 

We’ve integrated features that enhance the relationships between organisations and their farmers, to ensure that both parties are thriving. 

Our 1-to-1 inbox feature ensures farmers can ask questions and receive guidance specific to their situation.

Agribusinesses are able to discover valuable information about their farmers by sending out surveys and receive detailed analytics about what works, and also what doesn’t, for their farmers.

In 2020, 282 million people suffered from hunger in Africa. We're working hard to change this.

If you have the skills and expertise to join our fight to build a better food system and help smallholders prosper, let’s chat.