At the recent Global Philanthropy Forum (GPF) Leaders Summit, I had the honor of moderating a fireside chat with Shalini Unnikrishnan, Managing Director and Senior Partner at BCG, on one of the most promising—yet vastly underfunded—climate solutions: regenerative agriculture. Our discussion spotlighted the Action Agenda on Regenerative Landscapes (AARL) and its flagship initiative in Brazil’s Cerrado region, a powerful example of how philanthropy can de-risk early-stage investments and catalyse landscape-scale transformation.

The session was part of the first-ever food systems track at GPF, a milestone that reflected a growing recognition among global funders: food systems and the push for regenerative agriculture are not a side issue in the climate fight—they are central to it. And if we’re serious about climate, biodiversity, and resilience, philanthropy must play a catalytic role in accelerating food systems transformation.

Throughout the Summit, one theme came through loud and clear: funders are eager for bold, scalable solutions that deliver across multiple impact areas—climate mitigation, biodiversity protection, food security, and rural livelihoods. The push for regenerative agriculture offers exactly that. But despite its potential, it is not scaling fast enough—and the window for action is closing.

The global food system is already at a tipping point. Climate change is disrupting harvests, supply chains, and farmer livelihoods. Agriculture is responsible for 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and nearly 40% of the world’s land is already degraded. If business as usual continues, the hidden costs—from biodiversity loss to rising hunger and climate instability—could exceed $12 trillion.

Still, there is reason for hope. The push for regenerative agriculture offers a transformative path forward: by restoring soil health, rebuilding biodiversity, and enhancing climate resilience, it sequesters carbon, boosts productivity, and improves farmer livelihoods. The challenge lies in scale. To meet the 1.5°C global warming target, the amount of land under regenerative practices must triple by 2030—an ambitious goal that will require $300 billion annually, far beyond the current $44 billion invested each year.

Read the full article about the push for regenerative agriculture by Eva Goulbourne at Alliance Magazine.