THEMATIC SESSION 6:

FINANCE & BUSINESS

Innovative finance and business models that allow for mobilizing and scaling investments for CSA solutions, such as green finance, carbon markets, and tax incentives.

Cross-cutting Track

Mobilizing Finance & Business for Climate-Smart Agriculture and Resilient Food Systems

Session Overview:

The Finance & Business theme of the 2025 Global CSA Conference aims to advance innovative finance and business models that allow for mobilising and scaling investments that support farmers in transitioning to climate smart agricultural practices. Such models include green finance, carbon markets, tax incentives, and payments for ecosystem services.

Objectives of the sessions:

To present cutting-edge PES and carbon market research from Brazil, Costa Rica, and Africa.
To discuss the link between PES schemes, rural credit policy, and carbon markets.
To build momentum toward a PES deal announcement at the conference’s close.

From Pilot to Scale: Unlocking Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) in Agriculture

Event format: Formal panel discussion

Aligned with the CompensACTION initiative and the planned GIZ–AfDB deal announcement, the session will explore PES as a mechanism for mobilizing climate finance, examine enabling policies, and discuss the integration of voluntary carbon markets, particularly in African agriculture and livestock.

Time	Agenda
14:30 – 14:35	Welcome & Orientation Arne Brandschwede Advisor for Climate Change and Agriculture, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
14:35- 14:42	Input GIZ Marina Kosmus Head of the Competence Centre for Biodiversity, Forests, and Agriculture, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
14:43 – 14:48	Study Spotlight 1 Payments for Environmental Services: Economic Instrument for Decarbonization of the Brazilian Economy Denise Arisawa Researcher, University of Brasilia Alexandre Benecke Manager, Brazilian Supreme Federal Court
14:49 – 14:54	Study Spotlight 2 Aligning Rural Credit with Sustainable Practices: Environmental Indicators for Agricultural Policy Eduardo Melo Mazzoleni Foreign Trade Analyst, Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA)
14:55 – 15:00	Study Spotlight 3 Researching the Promise and the Perils of Voluntary Carbon Markets in African Livestock Sectors Todd Crane Principal Scientist – Climate Change Adaptation, International Livestock Research Institute
15:01 – 15:11	Study Spotlight Q&A Moderated by: Arne Brandschwede
15:15 – 15:44	Panel Discussion: From Pilot to Scale – Unlocking Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) in Agriculture Exploring how different financial and policy instruments can work together to mobilize climate finance in agriculture. Moderated by: Rachael Kretsis, Climate and Agriculture Advisor, FCDO Speakers: Gertrude Kambauwa Director of Land Resources Conservation, Malawi Ministry of Agriculture Michael Kwame Nkonu Head of Portfolio for Agricultural Livelihoods, IKEA Foundation Lieven Claessens Senior Scientist – Carbon Modelling, Olam Agri
15:45 – 15:54	Panel Future Outlook Moderated by: Rachael Kretsis
15:55 – 16:00	Closing Remarks Marina Kosmus Head of the Competence Centre for Biodiversity, Forests, and Agriculture, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

Innovative Finance & Business Models for Scaling CSA

Event format: Informal, engaging format

Beyond PES, showcasing green finance, blended finance, subsidy reform, and macroeconomic-trade policy innovations to mobilize CSA investments.

Time	Agenda
11:30 – 11:34	Welcome & framing Harriet Smith Climate and Agriculture Adviser, FCDO
11:35 – 11:39	Interactive poll Moderated by: Julia Bosshard Junior Advisor for Climate Action in Agrifood Systems, GIZ
11:40 – 12:03	Speed Talks – Research Spotlights Moderated by: Julia Bosshard Climate-Smart Agriculture: The Smallholder Action Coalition for Climate Adaptation (SACCA) in Bangladesh MD Farhad Zamil Executive Director, Sustainable Agriculture Foundation Bangladesh Blended Finance for Sustainable Agriculture: Opportunities and Risks in Market-Based Climate Instruments Luis Eduardo Pacific Rangel Federal Inspector for Agriculture and Senior Expert for Sustainable Agriculture, Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA) Environmental Macroeconomics and International Trade: Interfaces, Challenges, and Perspectives for a Sustainable Economy Kleydson Feio PhD Student, University of Brasília (UnB)
12:04 – 12:35	Solutions Lab Interactive group sessions discussing different financial mechanisms for advancing CSA. Moderated by: Arne Brandschwede Group session 1: Leveraging Private Finance for Smallholder Farmers Facilitated by: Ana Carolina Zimmermann (Charrua) Group session 2: Reform Opportunities of Public Finance Facilitated by: Rachael Kretsis (FCDO) Group session 3: The role of Carbon Markets for Access to Finance Facilitated by: Matthias Radek (GIZ)
12:35 – 12:47	Peer Exchange Groups sharing their solutions for different finance mechanisms. Moderated by: Arne Brandschwede
12:47 – 12:57	Harvest & Key Takeaways Synthesis of group solutions, compiled into a brief ‘CSA Finance Playbook’, including recommendations for advancing finance for CSA. Facilitated by: Julia Bosshard (GIZ) & Wiebe Smit (Clim-Eat)
12:57 – 13:00	Closing reflection Harriet Smith Climate and Agriculture Adviser, FCDO