Belém, Brazil — November 10, 2025 — Leads & Copy — The Gates Foundation has pledged $1.4 billion over four years to bolster climate adaptation efforts for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, regions highly vulnerable to extreme weather events.
The announcement was made at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, where leaders are focusing on locally driven adaptation strategies. The investment aims to provide these farmers with the resources and innovations needed to build resilience against droughts, floods, and rising temperatures. Despite their critical role in global food production, smallholder farmers in low-income countries receive less than 1% of global climate finance.
Bill Gates, chair of the Gates Foundation, emphasized the importance of supporting the ingenuity of these farmers with effective tools and resources. He stated that investing in their resilience is a high-impact strategy for both people and the planet. This commitment aligns with Gates’ vision of prioritizing climate investments for maximum human impact and the foundation’s broader goal of alleviating poverty by 2045.
Mark Suzman, CEO of the Gates Foundation, highlighted the economic and moral necessity of climate adaptation. He noted that the investment builds upon existing support for farmers in Africa and South Asia, encouraging governments and the private sector to prioritize adaptation alongside mitigation.
The foundation’s investment will focus on scaling farmer-led innovations, including:
- Digital advisory services: Expanding mobile apps and SMS platforms to deliver tailored information for informed planting decisions and risk management. This includes support for the AIM for Scale initiative, targeting 100 million farmers by 2030.
- Climate-resilient crops and livestock: Developing varieties that can withstand drought, heat, and pests while improving yields and nutrition.
- Soil health innovations: Implementing approaches to restore degraded land, enhance productivity, and reduce emissions, supported by a $30 million partnership with the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
Examples of existing partnerships include:
- AIM for Scale: In 2025, delivered AI-powered SMS weather forecasts to nearly 40 million farmers across 13 Indian states.
- TomorrowNow and KALRO: Providing hyper-local weather alerts to over 5 million Kenyan farmers, with expansion underway in Tanzania, Malawi, and Zambia.
The Gates Foundation will co-host the Agricultural Innovation Showcase at COP30 with Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Embrapa, AGRA, AIM for Scale, CGIAR, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), and the United Arab Emirates. The showcase will highlight climate-smart solutions designed for and by farmers.
Wanjeri Mbugua, CEO of TomorrowNow, stated that smallholder farmers adapt quickly when given the right tools and resources and that data-driven solutions can empower them to make informed decisions and build resilience.
Media contact: media@gatesfoundation.org
Source: Gates Foundation
