{"id":843543,"date":"2025-11-21T08:48:26","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T06:48:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=843543"},"modified":"2025-11-21T08:48:31","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T06:48:31","slug":"harnessing-agriculture-as-a-catalyst-for-climate-resilient-growth-insights-for-b20-sa-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/industry-news\/843543\/harnessing-agriculture-as-a-catalyst-for-climate-resilient-growth-insights-for-b20-sa-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Harnessing Agriculture as a Catalyst for Climate-Resilient Growth: Insights for B20 SA 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em><sup>By Andrew Aitken, Head at RMB Ventures<\/sup><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As South Africa approaches the conclusion of its G20 presidency, the B20 Summit\u2014 taking place from November 18-20 in Johannesburg\u2014presents a pivotal opportunity to elevate agriculture&#8217;s role in fostering climate-resilient economies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Under the banner of sustainable food systems and innovation, the B20\u2019s focus on \u201cSustainable Productivity Growth in Agriculture\u201d reflects global priorities for food security amid rising climate risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rmb.co.za\/sponsorships-and-events\/shaping-our-global-future?utm_source=businesstech&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=b20&amp;utm_content=andrew\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Click here for more information about RMB.<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The Sustainable Food Systems &amp; Agriculture Task Force is driving this agenda through partnerships and innovation, echoing commitments like the Kampala Declaration, a continental commitment to agrifood transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With Sub-Saharan Africa&#8217;s growth projected at 4.1% for 2025, agriculture stands as a cornerstone for inclusive, green development. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This opinion piece explores key pathways\u2014science-led growth, circular economy practices, inclusive development, digital agriculture, and green financing\u2014to transform farming into a catalyst for resilience, drawing on recent innovations and South African examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Science-led growth is empowering farmers through data-driven trials and evidence-based practices, revolutionising productivity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Emerging precision agriculture technologies are increasingly recognised for their potential to significantly enhance crop yields and resource efficiency, particularly in climate-vulnerable regions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Global organisations such as IFOAM \u2013 Organics International are promoting these innovations alongside organic practices to help farmers transition to sustainable agriculture, advocate for supportive policies, and raise awareness about responsible production and consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Across Africa, collaborative science initiatives are accelerating innovation in agriculture, health, and technology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Science for Africa Foundation highlights progress in areas such as clinical research, biosecurity, and sustainable farming practices, underscoring the continent\u2019s growing role in global scientific advancement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>AfriKelp, a South African firm, exemplifies how local scientific innovation in biostimulants\u2014such as those derived from kelp\u2014can contribute to global climate resilience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Such initiatives not only mitigate climate impacts but also empower farmers optimise yields, underscoring B20&#8217;s call for innovation in climate-smart systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Building on science-led innovation, the next frontier is circularity\u2014creating farming systems that minimise waste and maximise resource efficiency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Transitioning to a circular economy in farming enhances sustainability by closing loops on waste and inputs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In arid regions, integrated models recycle waste into feed and water solutions, strengthening food security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Globally, the EU\u2019s circular economy strategy\u2014aiming for climate neutrality by 2050\u2014champions regenerative practices that ease resource pressure on agriculture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Across Africa, agroecosystems are adopting closed-loop models that reuse organic waste to cut environmental footprints. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>South Africa\u2019s Integrated Resource Plan supports efficient energy use in farming, indirectly enabling water reuse and energy-efficient processing systems in agriculture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Practical steps like composting manure into fertiliser or converting food waste into soil enhancers are gaining traction, reducing hunger and emissions while aligning with B20\u2019s call for resilient value chains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Inclusive growth through skills, education, and community investment ensures that agricultural transitions benefit all, particularly marginalised groups. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The African Union&#8217;s call for a new social contract anchored in education and skills development further amplifies this, unlocking Africa&#8217;s potential amid youth-focused strategies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With over a billion people employed in global agriculture, investing in human capital is not just a moral imperative\u2014it\u2019s a strategic lever for resilience, equity, and long-term prosperity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Digital agriculture is reshaping food security. AI, IoT, and satellite technology enable smart farming, optimising resources for ecological transitions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>AgTech trends point to generative AI transforming data into actionable insights, while digital agronomy accelerates global adoption. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Africa, these tools are tackling food insecurity, with precision agriculture growing three times faster than average, according to the IFPRI 2025 Global Food Policy Report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, financing the green transition demands scaled climate finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Agriculture needs more, with calls for $50 billion annually in adaptation funding, as outlined in the 2025 Global Landscape of Climate Finance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The OPEC Fund&#8217;s 2025 report highlights $180 million for agriculture, urging shifts toward food systems transformation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>B20 can advocate &#8220;greening&#8221; aid for trade, aligning with Paris Agreement goals, while leveraging private finance to bridge gaps in decarbonization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As B20 convenes, agriculture must be positioned as the engine of climate-resilient growth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By integrating science, circularity, inclusion, digital tools, and finance, we can forge sustainable futures. South Africa\u2019s leadership offers a blueprint\u2014now is the time to scale it globally and deliver impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rmb.co.za\/sponsorships-and-events\/shaping-our-global-future?utm_source=businesstech&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=b20&amp;utm_content=andrew\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Click here for more information about RMB.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As South Africa prepares to host the G20 Summit beginning on 22 November, Emrie Brown, the CEO of RMB, emphasised the strategic importance of this global gathering and the actionable recommendations contained within the recently published B20 South Africa Final Papers.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":844080,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10459],"tags":[23704,7185,2214],"class_list":["post-843543","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry-news","tag-b20","tag-g20","tag-rmb"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/843543","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/57"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=843543"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/843543\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":843695,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/843543\/revisions\/843695"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/844080"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=843543"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=843543"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=843543"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}