Generated Summary
This report, produced by the Global Alliance for the Future of Food, examines the critical need for transitioning global food systems towards regenerative and agroecological approaches to address urgent environmental challenges and promote climate stability, biodiversity, and planetary health. The study, conducted in collaboration with philanthropic partners and based on analyses, case studies, and stakeholder interviews, assesses the costs and benefits of such a transition. It highlights the potential of these approaches to improve food security, farmer incomes, and environmental outcomes, while also addressing the negative externalities of industrial food systems. The report advocates for a tenfold increase in philanthropic, public, and private investments to support this transition, emphasizing the need for a shift in financial flows, power dynamics, and governance structures to ensure equitable and sustainable outcomes. The report aims to provide insights for accelerating the transition to regenerative and agroecological systems, including investment strategies and identifying key levers for change.
Key Findings & Statistics
- The FAO report estimates that the cost of the global food system surpasses USD 12 trillion every year.
- Food systems account for one-third of greenhouse gas emissions and at least 15% of fossil fuel use.
- The hidden costs of current industrial food systems globally is at least USD 12 trillion per year.
- The World Bank estimates that the costly system is propped up by USD 635 billion in annual global agricultural subsidies, USD 385 billion of which are considered distortive.
- The transition to agroecology and regenerative approaches is estimated to cost USD 250 to 430 billion annually, which is notably less than current agricultural subsidies.
- Current investments in this transition are estimated at USD 44 billion per year.
- Philanthropy contributes an estimated USD 300 to 700 million annually.
- The report calls for a tenfold increase in current annual philanthropic, public, and private investments to support the transition to agroecology and regenerative approaches.
- The report aims to transition half of all food production systems to regenerative and agroecological approaches by 2040, and all food systems transitioning toward more regenerative approaches by 2050.
- Andhra Pradesh, India – Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF):
- Transition period is 5 to 8 years.
- Cost of transition is USD 200 to 350 per farmer.
- 80% of the cost requirement is spent on training, monitoring, and measurement.
- Incomes of APCNF farmers increased by 49%, largely due to a 44% reduction in input costs.
- Kansas, USA – Regenerative Farming Among Wheat Farmers:
- Transition period is 3 to 5 years.
- Farmers in the study found their profits typically declined USD 86 to 272 per hectare (USD 35 to 110 per acre).
- Once farmers reach a steady state of regenerative practices, profitability is forecasted to increase by 70 to 120% per year over 6 to 10 years.
- Regenerative practices are estimated to offer farmers a 15 to 25% return on investment over 10 years.
- Kenya – Regenerative Farming Among Smallholder Farmers:
- Transition period is 3 to 5 years.
- On-farm cost of USD 126 per hectare (USD 51 per acre) per year.
- Farmers witnessed a significant increase in yields over 3 to 5 years, up to four times the yield obtained through conventional farming.
- Brazil – Sustainable Farming for a Large Beef Farm in the Amazon:
- Transition period is 3 years.
- On-farm cost of USD 476 to 672 per hectare per year (USD 193 to 271 per acre per year) during the transition.
- Farmers witnessed a 130% increase in income over 3 years.
- Beef productivity increased by 5.7%, rising from 228 to 241 kg of live weight sold per hectare (503 to 531 pounds per 2.5 acres).
Other Important Findings
- Agroecological transitions result in a cascade of positive results, from stable yields, crop resilience, and higher incomes for farmers, fishers, and food producers to improved nutrition, food security, and enhanced biodiversity.
- The transition to regenerative and agroecological approaches is seen as a critical element of the pathway forward in the face of the need to phase out fossil fuel use, especially fossil fuel-based agrochemicals.
- The report emphasizes the importance of shifting from harmful practices, such as chemical-intensive monocrop agriculture and industrial meat production, to incentivize deep and structural change with a focus on supporting farmers, fishers, and organizations driving the change.
- The initiative seeks to create a deeply collaborative and consultative process that puts landscape actors in the center, builds alignment across diverse philanthropies, identifies gaps, and fosters opportunities and relationships that will lead to further collaboration and shared action.
- The Global Alliance aims to facilitate convergence around a shared vision and values to build critical mass and momentum behind tipping points that lead to healthy, equitable, renewable, resilient, inclusive, and culturally diverse food systems.
- Key acceleration and scale ideas include Ecosystem Coordination, Finance and Funding, Market Development, Policy, Advocacy, and Communications, Research, Data, and Evidence, and Systems-Level Implementation.
Limitations Noted in the Document
- The report acknowledges that the figures presented are based on analysis and evidence from around the world, with a rough estimate of the magnitude of financing needed for this transition.
- The costs of the transition vary significantly between regions due to vastly different economies, systems, and structures.
- The case studies analyzed to develop figures do not include livestock transitions.
- Although case studies about agroecology and regenerative approaches are plentiful, detailed data and evidence about on-the-ground transition costs are limited.
Conclusion
The Global Alliance for the Future of Food’s report underscores the urgent need for a transformative shift in global food systems toward regenerative and agroecological practices. This transition is essential not only for addressing the economic and environmental toll of current industrial food systems but also for fostering climate stability, biodiversity, and improved livelihoods. The report’s call to action, supported by data and case studies, emphasizes that the costs of inaction far outweigh the investments required for this transition. The report advocates for a significant increase in funding from philanthropic, public, and private sectors to catalyze this change, highlighting the importance of collaboration, aligned strategies, and innovative financing mechanisms. The report emphasizes that achieving the ambitious goals requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses not only financial flows but also power dynamics, governance structures, and the involvement of local communities and Indigenous Peoples. The success of this transformation hinges on a shared vision and values to build momentum and accelerate the transition. The insights from the document stress that the transition requires a system-level approach, encompassing various strategies and levers for acceleration and scale, as well as the need for a shift in narratives and policies. The report’s final thought highlights that regenerative and agroecological approaches represent vital pathways for a sustainable future, urging for collective action and increased investment to realize this much-needed transformation. The initiatives of this report emphasize that the transition is achievable and that its success depends on the dedication and collaboration of all stakeholders involved, from funders and policymakers to farmers and communities. The authors express their belief in the transformative potential of these approaches, with the intention of improving lives, protecting biodiversity, and stabilizing the climate through the shift to a more sustainable and equitable food system.