Can climate-smart agriculture deliver at scale? Insights from across the food value chain

A recent Innovation Forum webinar brought together farmers and companies to discuss the opportunities, limitations, and practical realities of making climate-smart agriculture work at scale. The session, in partnership with Agreena, explored on-the-ground realities, the role of data, and the importance of farmer-centric approaches.

No two farms are the same: the realities on the ground for farmers 

• Thomas's family began transitioning to regenerative practices as early as 2008, long before it was widely recognised or supported, shifting away from traditional heavy ploughing towards a no-till, direct-drill system that prioritized soil health and reduced input dependence.
• Over time, the benefits of this approach have become clear – from improved drought resilience due to better moisture retention in healthy soils, to more stable crop performance and lower input costs, especially in years of extreme weather.
• While Gentle Farming’s yields have remained roughly the same compared to conventional farms, their profit per hectare is significantly higher, driven largely by reductions in costs associated with fuel, fertilizers, and machinery.
• Some of the biggest early barriers included a lack of available knowledge and peer support, along with limited access to the right machinery – issues that required innovation and persistence to overcome.
• Peer-to-peer learning is a powerful tool: the most effective way to spread regenerative practices is through farmers visiting each other’s fields, sharing what works and what doesn’t in a practical, context-specific way. 
• Supply chain stakeholders should visit farms regularly to build trust and understand ground realities.
• Gent's advice for farmers beginning their transition was clear: start by evaluating your farm's specific conditions and then learn from others in similar situations. “No two farms are the same”, said Thomas. Transitioning to sustainable practices requires understanding the unique context of each farm—soil type, machinery, and local biodiversity. 
• Gentle Farming is aiming to enhance its efforts in biodiversity conservation as its next focus.

Data as an enabler and trust builder

• Agreena operates across 20 countries and works with farmers to generate robust, field-level data that enables the production of verified carbon credits and evidence-based supply chain interventions.
• The company collects more than 200 unique data points per field, including information on crop rotation, soil history, weather patterns, and management practices, enabling a tailored, accurate carbon footprint for each plot of land.
• The main barrier to adoption for most farmers is economic uncertainty, especially during the initial transition period, where yields may temporarily drop, and costs may rise before the benefits kick in.
• For large-scale farmers, who often have a longer-term planning horizon and access to capital, the business case is clearer. However, for smaller farmers, particularly those managing from harvest to harvest, the financial risks of transitioning can be too great without external support.
• Agreena works to bridge this gap by monetizing environmental services, allowing farmers to generate income through carbon credits or supply chain premiums while transitioning to regenerative practices.
• Building farmer trust is central to Agreena’s model, and Simon stressed that this is best achieved when farmers hear from other farmers, and when data is returned in a way that reflects their actual on-the-ground reality — not generic averages.

The role of corporates: insights from Mars Petcare and Nespresso 

• Agriculture makes up 60% of Mars Inc’s carbon footprint, making it a key focus for decarbonization.
• The company has integrated regenerative agriculture into its “Sustainable in a Generation” plan, with the aim of applying these practices across hundreds of thousands of hectares by 2030.
• A context-specific approach is a must, with customised interventions based on local crop types, soil conditions, available machinery, and farmer capabilities, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model.
• Collaboration is key to this strategy — Mars works not just with farmers, but with intermediary suppliers, local agronomists, and industry peers to co-design programs that are technically sound and regionally relevant.
• Data plays a crucial role in demonstrating impact, both externally (to prove sustainability claims) and internally (to secure buy-in from procurement teams, CFOs, and other business units).
• Currently, Mars primarily relies on carbon data, as it is the most robust and standardized, but there are ambitions to expand impact measurement to include biodiversity, water use, and soil health.

• Nespresso has a long-standing commitment to sustainability, reflected in its AAA Sustainable Quality Program, launched to promote sustainable farming and improve farmer livelihoods.
• The company works directly with over 400 coffee farmers globally, enabling a traceable and closed-loop supply chain that allows for detailed tracking of sustainability outcomes from farm to cup.
• Nespresso focuses heavily on agroforestry systems, integrating shade trees and other crops to improve biodiversity, reduce water stress, and protect against extreme weather conditions like heatwaves or droughts.
• Projects in countries such as Ethiopia and Costa Rica are helping farmers build resilience to climate shocks. But many of these farmers operate in economically vulnerable contexts, making long-term engagement, technical support, and community-based investment critical.
• While financial support is important, support must also include training, capacity building, and long-term engagement, to ensure regenerative practices are not just adopted but sustained across generations.

Challenges and enablers for scaling

• Economic barriers: Many farmers, particularly smallholders, can’t afford the initial investment or withstand temporary yield drops during transition.
• Verification costs: The cost of monitoring and reporting outcomes is too high for many smaller operations, making it difficult to access markets or finance.
• Fragmented supply chains: When farms grow multiple crops for multiple buyers, it’s hard to coordinate ecosystem payments that fairly reflect all services delivered.
• Unclear or inconsistent definitions: Regenerative agriculture still means different things to different actors — creating confusion and inefficiencies.
  
  

• Blended finance models that combine public and private investment are emerging as a key enabler, helping reduce risk for farmers and de-risk loans for banks.
• Technology solutions, such as satellite monitoring and digital advisory tools, are bringing down the cost of measurement and helping farmers access insights and finance.
• Cross-industry collaboration is becoming more common, as companies realize they need to pool resources to support shared suppliers and outcomes.
• Policy and regulation, while still evolving, are starting to provide clearer frameworks and incentives to align public and private investments.
  
  

Visions for the future

• Reineke (Nespresso): We must stay adaptable – climate variability is intensifying, and resilience must be built into farming systems from the ground up.
• Claire (Mars): The challenges ahead are technical, financial, and methodological, but the pieces are in place. Now it’s about linking them up and moving forward.
• Thomas (Gentle Farming): This is an exciting time for farmers. Let’s continue the momentum through open communication and shared innovation.
• Simon (Agreena): The awareness has exploded, now it’s time to move from talking to scaling, bringing regenerative practices to millions of hectares around the world.

 

• Click here to view the questions asked during the webinar. 
• Learn how to leverage regenerative agriculture data for Scope 3 reductions with Agreena here. 
• Want to learn more about how you can achieve your ambition net zero goals on shorter timelines? Get in touch with the Agreena team here or click here to book a meeting with Agreena.
• Join Agreena’s next events and webinars here.