2024 GRP Investors’ Forum: Spotlight on The CAFAESUP Project in New York Climate Week, New York City, USA.
The Global Resilience Partnership (GRP) Investors’ Forum on 23/09/2024 in New York City, provided an unparalleled platform for groundbreaking conversations and investment opportunities centered on climate resilience, where the dynamic CAFAESUP project made its mark on the global stage. As part of the Resilience Hub sessions, the event attracted a diverse audience of top-tier investors and leaders in climate resilience, agriculture, food security, and sustainable urban development, all keenly focused on tackling pressing global challenges in Africa, Southern America, and Asia.
FSPN, along with seven other prominent entities, had the exceptional opportunity to present the CAFAESUP project, a locally led resilience initiative aimed at equipping smallholder farmers in Kenya and Tanzania with the tools and knowledge to adopt regenerative agriculture practices.
By promoting carbon sequestration in soils, CAFAESUP seeks to build climate resilience, contribute to global decarbonization, and improve smallholder farmers' livelihoods. This initiative has the potential to not only mitigate the impacts of climate change but also pave the way for sustainable, low-emission farming models that yield both environmental and economic benefits.
The forum’s audience was composed of distinguished investors with a deep commitment to fostering resilience in vulnerable communities. These “dragon” investors represented some of the most reputable institutions globally, each ready to support projects that align with their values and amplify their impact on environmental sustainability.
Thought-provoking discussions around critical themes, including climate change, agriculture, urban resilience, and food security enriched the event. The passion for collaborative climate action was evident, as partners across sectors connected and deliberated over innovative solutions to combat these shared challenges.
Also read: CAFAESUP: Empowering farmers through regenerative practices.
The engagement was palpable; investors and partners expressed a strong interest in CAFAESUP’s model, seeking further insights and exploring partnership opportunities. This receptiveness demonstrated a collective recognition of the urgent need to support projects that foster resilience among smallholder farmers and address climate challenges at the grassroots level.
Reflecting on the experience, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the GRP team for organizing this impactful event, facilitating our participation, and providing a platform for CAFAESUP to be showcased to a global audience. This opportunity underscored the value of storytelling in FSPN Africa’s resilience-building work. As the saying goes, “When you tell a story of how you are striving to impact people and the planet, you inspire others to join you on the journey, making resilience everybody’s business.”
The camaraderie and shared purpose among colleagues and fellow innovators, as well as the warm encouragement from the audience, fueled a renewed commitment to advancing CAFAESUP’s mission. As we look forward, to the support, ideas, and enthusiasm generated at the Investors' Forum you are welcome to support and witness invaluable momentum in our work, inspiring resilience, and creating sustainable solutions for smallholder farmers and their communities.
For more information, contact info@fspnafrica.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CAFAESUP?
It is Carbon Farming for Agricultural and Environmental Sustainability and Profitability, a project being implemented by FSPN Africa with farmers in local communities of Kenya and Tanzania.
- What is carbon farming?
Carbon farming is a set of agricultural practices that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in the soil and vegetation.
- What are carbon farming practices?
Reduced fertilizer application, reduced tillage, improved residue management, eliminating bare fallows/tilled land, increasing cover cropping, sowing companion crops, agroforestry, improved water management, crop rotation.
- What are the benefits of carbon farming?
Embracing carbon farming unlocks benefits for farmers and the environment by prioritising soil health, generating new revenue streams through carbon credits, building climate resilience, and maximising yield and productivity, improved food and nutrition security.
- What are the 5 principles of carbon farming?
- Maximize biodiversity: Increase the diversity of plants and animals in the soil and on the soil surface.
- Keep soil covered: Keep fields cultivated year-round with cover crops.
- Minimize soil disturbance: Use minimal soil disturbance practices, such as no-till drills or strip-till equipment.
- Integrate animals: Livestock can stimulate plants to pump more carbon into the soil, feed the soil with manure and microbes, and pollinate crops.
- Keep living roots in the soil: Convert solar energy into humus through root excretions
- Is farming carbon neutral?
No, farming is not carbon neutral because agricultural processes contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. However, there are practices that can help reduce or offset these emissions, making farming more carbon neutral such as Regenerative agriculture, Livestock management and Renewable energy through use of renewable energy sources like solar or wind power to power operations
- What is Carbon Sequestration?
It is the increase the amount of carbon stored in the soil and vegetation through practices like planting trees, restoring wetlands, and improving soil health
- How much can you make from carbon farming?
The amount of money a farmer can make from carbon farming depends on the specific project and the quality of the carbon credits sold.