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Agricultural Finance as a Force for Conservation: Innovations for and from the Global South

Why attend
Agricultural finance is a hot topic, and no wonder – it’s a key lever for turning agriculture from a source of environmental harm and social inequalities to a driver of conservation and social inclusiveness. This lively panel session will give participants the chance to debate emerging findings and ideas, and spark collaborations for change.
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How can we innovate inclusive financial instruments to reward farmers and businesses for protecting and restoring nature? The reality on the ground is still far from where we want to be. In a recent UN Food Systems Summit dialogue, a farmer representative said: “Is support to ecosystems good business for farmers? No, unless the fundamentals change”. A green business leader said: “There is a lot of hype about private and blended finance, but pro-nature is still bad business from a financial returns perspective”. How can green financial instruments be designed to support the livelihoods of the poorest people in rural communities? This session, led by the WLE-supported Commission on Sustainable Agriculture Intensification (CoSAI), will present emerging results of a new study on the impacts of financial support to nature-positive and socially-inclusive agriculture in the Global South, and hold a panel discussion on how innovation in finance and public policy can leverage change.

Session agenda

Moderator

Dr Grethel AGUILAR

IUCN Deputy Director General,
IUCN
Switzerland

Opening remarks
11:00 - 12:30

Speaker

Dr Ximena RUEDA

Associate Professor at the School of Management at Universidad de Los Andes, and Senior Research Fellow from Environment for Development (EfD) Colombia,
Commission on Sustainable Agriculture Intensification (CoSAI)
Colombia

Review of innovation in financial mechanisms to support an inclusive sustainability transition in agriculture
11:10 - 11:30

Panelist

Dr Bettina PRATO

Senior Coordinator, Smallholder and Agri-SME Finance and Investment Network (SAFIN),
Italy


11:30 - 12:15

Ms Ma. Estrella PENUNIA

Secretary General,
Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA
Philippines


11:30 - 12:15

Dr Patrick BIGGER

Researcher and Consultant,
Biodiversity Capital Collective
United States of America


11:30 - 12:15

Thais FONTES

Senior Relationship Manager F&A Networks,
Rabobank
The Netherlands


11:30 - 12:15

Facilitator

Ms Josefina ACHAVAL TORRE

Project Officer,
Commission on Sustainable Agriculture Intensification (CoSAI)
Norway


11:00 - 12:30

Photo Gallery

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