The initiative aims to mitigate the impact of erratic weather patterns, including droughts and floods, which threaten agricultural livelihoods in these regions.

Supported by Bayer’s Crop Science division, the collaboration will provide financial protection to farmers facing yield losses due to extreme climate events.

Through innovative, data-driven agricultural insurance solutions, farmers will receive compensation for crop damage, enabling them to recover and reinvest in their farms while building resilience against future climate challenges.

To facilitate this ambitious initiative, Bayer Foundation has committed €10 million from its Social Innovation Ecosystem Fund.

This funding is expected to unlock approximately $127 million in insurance coverage for smallholder farmers.

Implementation will be carried out in coordination with national governments and local stakeholders to ensure widespread accessibility and impact.

Highlighting the urgency of the initiative, Matthias Berninger, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs, Science, and Sustainability at Bayer, stated:

“Smallholder farmers face mounting challenges as climate change intensifies. We must equip them to feed their communities and contribute to global food security.”

Rodrigo Santos, President of Bayer’s Crop Science division, emphasized the company’s dedication to sustainable agricultural solutions, noting:

“This partnership with Pula Foundation is a critical step toward building climate resilience for smallholders.”

The partnership builds upon a successful pilot project launched in Zimbabwe in 2021, which initially insured 31,000 farmers and expanded to over one million farmers within three years.

Rose Goslinga, Director of Pula Foundation, stressed the importance of insurance for smallholder farmers, stating:

“Insurance empowers farmers to prepare for volatile climates, reducing reliance on external aid and fostering long-term sustainability.”