Environmental Dialogue Series

Dan Zook presented five strategic approaches from ISF Advisors’ Blended Finance Playbook for Agri-Food Systems: systems-based financing that aligns stakeholders around shared climate goals, investments in natural capital assets like mangroves and coastal infrastructure, funding for climate-smart technologies including renewable energy and irrigation, technical assistance facilities that complement investor objectives, and strengthening local financial intermediaries to channel climate finance effectively.

Juan Tabora shared Root Capital’s experience implementing blended finance models over nearly two decades, emphasizing that effective technical assistance must be deeply embedded in lending relationships. Climate-smart transitions require patient capital and sustained support, often spanning multiple growing seasons. Root Capital’s approach combines climate risk diagnostics with tailored advisory services, helping farmer organizations implement practices that build resilience while maintaining financial viability.

Both speakers highlighted the ongoing challenge of data standardization and impact measurement in climate-smart agriculture. The discussion recognized AMEA’s progress through ISO 18716 in establishing common metrics for farmer organization capacity building, providing a foundation for better coordination between technical assistance providers and investors. The session concluded that transforming agricultural systems for climate resilience requires collaborative measurement frameworks, climate risk analysis, and sustained commitment across the entire ecosystem.