Environmental

Our food and agriculture system will face a variety of environmental challenges, many of which are expected to become more severe and frequent over the next decades. These include water scarcity, groundwater depletion and drought which complicate water governance and access. Globalization has led to the unprecedented spread of invasive species, pests, and diseases to new regions, including zoonotic diseases such as avian influenza that may impact human health. Variability in climate, including fluctuating temperatures, wildfires and extreme storms, has contributed to the loss of crops, as well as impacts on livestock and biodiversity in agricultural ecosystems. Soil health and water quality may be impacted by some agricultural practices as well as climate events, but regenerative practices, when paired with technology and incentives, may offer solutions that build sustainability and resilience in agricultural systems.

Financial

Food producers, processors and retailers are facing increasing volatility – rising input costs, changes to the cost of land, weather-related crop disruptions, exchange rate fluctuations, and rising pressures to keep food prices low – that challenge their financial well-being. Meanwhile, farmers face pressure to transition to more regenerative or sustainable practices, but this transition carries costs and risks as well, which can be especially impactful for small and mid-sized farmers, as well as young and minority farmers. Although some financial resources exist, some actors in the food system may have difficulty accessing credit or incentive programs, and there are limited amounts of venture capital for agri-food initiatives.