Too many people worldwide lack access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food. As many as 828 million people still go hungry. Many of these people are either smallholder farmers or they depend on their output - 80% of food consumed in developing regions is grown by small-scale farmers. With food demand expected to grow by more than 70% by 2050, there is a need to put in place sustainable food systems that work for smallholders.
Supporting the integration of smallholders into these systems and minimizing their crop losses (up to 40% of which are currently caused by crop pests) can help reduce hunger and increase rural incomes. bwi helps smallholder farmers to improve their crop yields, tackle pests and diseases, and find alternatives to pesticides. With our help, farmers are gaining access to better planting materials and seeds and adopting sustainable agricultural practices.
We work with governments and other stakeholders to influence policies and practices to support farmers’ access to markets, finance and nature-positive solutions. We also apply our expertise in food value chains, trade and digital development to create employment opportunities and improve livelihoods.
Our action
To deliver change, we:
- 1. Support sustainable food production by strengthening the links between plant health system components, including advisory services, research, input supply and regulation
- 2. Predict and prevent pest threats to crops through co-ordinated prioritization and response plans that employ digital technology, including earth observation data and modelling
- 3. Improve farmers’ market access, incomes and welfare by increasing the use of low-risk plant protection products and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies that enable safer production of higher-value produce
- 4. Provide research to support investment in SMEs serving the needs of smallholder farmers