At COP30 Brazil, the International Agri-Food Network (IAFN) co-hosted a dynamic session with J-PAL North America, bringing together voices from across the global agri-food value chain. The discussion highlighted a central theme: profitability for farmers must be at the heart of resilience and sustainability.

Profitability First

Panelists emphasized that resilience cannot be achieved by focusing solely on yields and production. Supporting profitability — ensuring farmers can thrive economically — is the foundation for scaling regenerative practices and sustainable innovations. At the macro level, collaboration between governments, the private sector, and farmer organizations is essential to make these transitions viable.

Voices from the Value Chain

The panel brought together diverse perspectives — from local farmers to manufacturing, input providers, and academia — underscoring how resilience is built when all parts of the chain listen, share risk, and co-invest in solutions. The discussion highlighted that profitability for farmers must be at the center of resilient food systems. Beyond yields and production, ensuring farmers can thrive economically is what enables sustainability to scale. Panelists emphasized that collaboration across governments, the private sector, and farmer organizations is essential to make this transition possible. Market access interventions such as improving supplier information, contract farming, and crop storage technologies were identified as critical levers. The conversation also underscored how resilience is built when all parts of the value chain — from farmers to manufacturing, inputs, and academia — listen, share risk, and co‑invest in solutions. Regenerative practices, food loss reduction, and better extension services all depend on networks of trust and shared responsibility. Together, these efforts show that agriculture is not just part of the climate solution, but the engine room of resilience.

Collaboration Across the Chain

The session reinforced that no single intervention is a silver bullet. From fertilizer innovation to regenerative practices, from storage technologies to extension services, success depends on whole value chain collaboration. Governments must send clear demand signals, the private sector must step up with investment and innovation, and farmers must be recognized for the value they create — healthier soils, cleaner water, and resilient communities.

Agriculture as the Engine Room of Resilience

By centering profitability, fostering trust, and building partnerships across the value chain, the private sector together can drive the transformation toward resilient food systems.

🔗 Revisit the panel: https://events.cgiar.org/leveragingtheprivatesectortoma