Climate resilience
Farmers are on the front lines of climate change. They must adapt to the changing weather now, and keep their land sustainable for generations to come.
Smallholder farmers contribute little to climate change but are some of the worst impacted. Their entire livelihood is often dependent on rainfall and an acre or two of land. Over 2 billion people rely on smallholder farms for food and income. Despite that, less than 2% of global climate finance aids these farmers in adapting to climate change.
This is not a hypothetical future risk; it is a reality they are facing today. Smallholder farmers are witnessing devastating impacts on their crops, yields, diets, and families.
Our 10-year climate strategy supports smallholder farmers to build a prosperous future despite a changing climate. Tailored climate-smart farming trainings and quality inputs (including optimal seed choices) increase crop yields and diversity, bolstering incomes while tackling climate-related challenges like pests and extreme weather. And products like crop insurance help provide protection when disaster strikes.
And One Acre Fund farmers are at the forefront of one of the largest tree-planting efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa. By early 2024, 2.8 million farmers have planted 250 million trees, and we are positioned to plant 1 billion trees by 2030.
How do we measure our impact on climate resilience?
One Acre Fund runs multi-year studies of soil fertility, measuring soil organic matter, nutrients, and acidity levels (which allows plants to soak up nutrients). In 2023, One Acre Fund supported over 1 million farmers in adopting at least one soil health practice, such as reducing soil acidity via agricultural lime, applying compost to their fields to increase organic matter, or undertaking erosion control practices. This is a key area of focus, as healthier soils worldwide could store up to 20% of current global carbon emissions - while also helping farmers to increase their yields.
One Acre Fund's Global Croptake
Our Global Croptake warns of a global decline in crop yields of 3–12% by 2050 and 11–25% by 2100. This will have a direct effect on smallholder farmers on the frontlines. Learn more here
Explore more of our climate resilience work
Our work focuses on three key areas for climate impact: Adaptation, mitigation and leadership.
One Acre Fund is focused on helping farmers adapt to the rapidly changing climate. Adaption is critical - hundreds of millions of people in Sub-Saharan Africa depend on agriculture to support their families.
Climate mitigation
One Acre Fund supports smallholder farmers to mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis through on-farm tree planting and soil health practices that sequester carbon from the atmosphere.
Climate leadership
One Acre Fund advocates for smallholder farmers to be put front and center of global climate decisions. This is pivotal for achieving global climate goals. In our work we collaborate with farmers to develop solutions that help them build their climate resilience.
Invest in Climate Resilience
Small-scale farmers are stewards of our climate. Make an investment in the future with a monthly gift.
See our climate resilience work in action
Growing resilience: Farmers lead the way in Kenya and Rwanda
Picture a farmer in Kenya sowing seeds of managu, an indigenous leafy green packed with nutrients her children need to thrive. Or a farmer in Rwanda planting cover crops to enrich her soil and protect against erosion. These small acts of resilience are happening against a backdrop of enormous challenges: climate change, degraded soils, and rising food insecurity.
How the science of soil testing translates into farmer impact
Oliver Shibonje, a retired geography and music teacher from Kenya's Kakamega County, has traded in his chalk and classroom for the open fields, embracing full-time farming with a focus on maize, vegetables, and sugarcane.
Why climate-smart agriculture is important for Burundi's new generation of farmers
Younger farmers like Asterie are inheriting the mantle of farming from their parents at a time when the impacts of climate change are accelerating. It is crucial for them to acquire climate-smart farming skills to ensure that they are still able to harvest well and support their families.
More Than A Tree: How trees are changing Esther’s future
On most days, you will find Esther Wangari tending to her farm, located deep in the heart of Kirinyaga County, in Kenya’s central highlands. Bordering her maize and beans fields, Esther’s latest passion – tree planting – thrives. For this Kenyan smallholder farmer, her new venture is more than just about planting trees; it is also about her livelihood and securing her family’s future.
