The Challenge
Adoption of regenerative agriculture practices in India remains slow and insufficiently incentivized, despite their critical role in building climate resilience. Over 86% of India’s farming community are smallholders facing escalating threats like soil degradation and erratic weather. Women farmers are particularly vulnerable due to systemic barriers and limited financial and technical support. Without effective incentives and risk mitigation, the transition to climate-smart agriculture is hindered, limiting farmers’ ability to improve yields, income, and long-term sustainability.
Blended Finance in Action
TBFC worked with a large global philanthropy to identify blended finance opportunities that could accelerate the adoption of regenerative farming in India. Drawing on research, stakeholder conversations, market analysis and field visits, we explored how carbon markets can provide farmers with an additional revenue stream and how philanthropic capital can play a catalytic role in de-risking farmer participation.
Our work included engaging with carbon project developers already active in the regenerative agriculture space in India and mapping pathways where philanthropy could unlock scale. We also examined how large-scale demand aggregation can create stronger market pull for regenerative production. For example, integrating regenerative produce into school meal programs can serve as a powerful demand driver. Philanthropic funding, in this context, can help bridge early adoption gaps by incentivizing both cultivation and institutional demand. To move this agenda forward, TBFC convened domestic and international philanthropies, government stakeholders, and carbon project developers to gather insights and explore potential co-funding partnerships.
