Kenya calls for increased investment in climate-smart agriculture: Rethinking global food security under climate shocks

Kenya Calls for Increased Investment in Climate-Smart Agriculture: Rethinking Global Food Security Amid Climate Shocks

Nairobi, Kenya, March 2026 – At the third Global Business Summit on Climate Change, Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Mutahi Kagwe, sent a clear signal: climate shocks are no longer a future scenario but a reality that is currently disrupting agricultural production. His call for increased investment in climate-smart agriculture is not only about Africa's food security but also affects the stability of the global food supply chain.

Climate Shocks: From Risk to Reality

Kenya's agricultural sector relies heavily on rainfall, making the country highly vulnerable to increasingly frequent droughts, erratic rainfall, floods, and rising temperatures. Kagwe noted, "If African agriculture fails, the global food system will feel the shock." This interdependence cannot be ignored: African agricultural products have a place in the global market, and once productivity declines, global price volatility and social instability will follow.

The African continent faces more severe climate challenges. Declining crop yields, damage to livestock, and water shortages – these chain reactions ultimately drive up food prices, exacerbating poverty and malnutrition. As the backbone of the economy, the resilience of agriculture directly determines whether sustainable development can be achieved.

Climate-Smart Agriculture: A Win-Win for Adaptation and Productivity

Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) is regarded by Kenya as a core strategy. It integrates the triple goals of increasing productivity, adapting to climate change, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By adopting drought-resistant varieties, improving irrigation, precision farming techniques, and conservation tillage, farmers can maintain yields amid climate fluctuations while reducing their environmental footprint. Kenya has launched relevant projects, including investment in irrigation infrastructure, promotion of improved seeds, and adaptive farming techniques.

However, scaling up CSA requires substantial funding. Kagwe revealed that Kenya has mobilized approximately $250 million in climate-related financing to enhance resilience and promote sustainable agricultural practices. Yet, this level remains far from sufficient compared to the need. Africa requires several times this investment to achieve a fundamental transformation of its agricultural system.

Climate Finance Gap: Who Will Pay?

At the summit, Kagwe reiterated the "polluter pays" principle. Historically, developed countries have emitted most greenhouse gases, while developing countries bear the brunt of climate impacts. However, developed countries have yet to fully deliver on the long-promised annual $100 billion climate finance goal, with adaptation funding particularly insufficient. Kagwe called for climate finance to be more predictable, transparent, and scaled to match the magnitude of the challenges facing Africa.This appeal aligns with the core contradiction in global climate governance: the imbalance of funding between mitigation and adaptation. Many African countries believe that international climate discussions focus excessively on emission reductions, while adaptation—especially in agriculture—has not received due attention. As climate impacts intensify, the return on investment in adaptation is higher: for every $1 invested in adaptation, several dollars in losses and relief costs can be avoided.

Africa’s Potential: From Vulnerability to Opportunity

Despite severe challenges, Kagwe emphasized that Africa should not be seen merely as a passive beneficiary of climate policies. With vast arable land, a young population, and expanding markets, Africa can become a major engine of global sustainable food production through the right investments. The African Union’s Agenda 2063 also lists climate resilience, food security, and sustainable development as pillars.

However, this requires innovation in development financing models. Besides public funds, private capital and ESG investments can play a key role. Kenya is attracting private investment through policy reforms, such as improving irrigation coverage, promoting agricultural technology, and establishing carbon market mechanisms (e.g., the national carbon registry system already launched). But investors need clear regulatory frameworks and lower risk perceptions. International development financial institutions can provide guarantees or blended finance to lower barriers.

Conclusion: Africa’s Equation for Global Food Security

Kenya’s call is not just a national appeal; it represents the shared concern of the African continent and the Global South regarding climate adaptation. As the climate crisis increasingly erodes the foundation of agricultural production, scaling up investment in climate-smart agriculture is not an option but a necessity. The international community must rebalance the focus of climate finance, placing adaptation on an equal footing with mitigation. Whether Africa’s agricultural transformation succeeds will determine the face of global food security in the coming decades.

The key to all this lies in whether resources can be translated from commitments into action. As Kagwe said, Africa must become a shaper of solutions, not merely a recipient. This requires adjustments in the global governance system and deep participation from the private sector. Climate change has no borders, and neither does food security—Kenya’s farmland will be a microcosm of the global test.