Food & Agriculture

The challenge

Food and agriculture systems are at the heart of the climate crisis. Rising temperatures and extreme weather events are disrupting food production and threatening global food security. At the same time, the way we grow, process, transport, and consume our food accounts for roughly one-third of the global greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to the climate crisis. Agriculture is also a cornerstone of many economies and livelihoods, particularly in rural communities. Farmers face complex economic pressures, including fluctuating global markets, growing debt, and supply chain consolidation. These factors can limit their ability to manage land in ways that sustain ecosystems and protect human health.

At the root of the problem is the rise of industrial agriculture, which prioritizes corporate profits and maximizing yields above human and ecological health. A handful of multinational corporations dominate the production of seeds, agrochemicals, fertilizers, and food processing and distribution. These companies exert a disproportionate influence over farming practices and public discourse, shaping a system that largely disregards climate resilience and workers’ rights.

A major barrier to progress is the persistence of false narratives: that industrial agriculture is the most efficient and affordable way to feed the world; that hunger stems from insufficient supply rather than inequitable distribution and agency; and that individual consumer choices alone can fix broken food systems. These narratives detract from farmers’ economic realities, reinforce harmful policies, and block meaningful change.

The opportunity

Transforming our food systems is one of the most powerful and actionable opportunities to advance climate action. Changes in how we produce and consume food, including the types of foods we grow, can deliver rapid emissions reductions and strengthen resilience. These efforts can also address the interconnected challenges of food security, health, and equity.

Creating lasting solutions requires partnering with producers and communities to build more resilient and equitable food systems. Around the world, farmers, Indigenous communities, and grassroots organizations are demonstrating scalable, locally grounded solutions that philanthropy can help support and scale. 

And philanthropic momentum is building. Investment in food and agriculture has grown rapidly in recent years to support a wide range of solutions, from soil health to shifting diets. Still, efforts remain fragmented and under-resourced, major gaps persist, and the total amount of funding is small compared to the scale of the challenge. Climate-focused philanthropy has not yet fully addressed the socioeconomic forces shaping food systems, including entrenched interests and pressures on food security.