Developing climate-resilient agricultural systems in Central America
The Context
Central America, situated between two very different oceanic ecosystems, is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, which adversely impacts agricultural productivity and the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in a region already challenged by entrenched poverty.
The pilot will take place in Estelí, Nicaragua, which is the country’s primary agricultural region. D-Lab will pilot REAL with 45 teams of 5 to 10 entrepreneurs who have a keen understanding of the ways in which climate change affects agricultural yields in their region today, and how it will affect yields in the long-term.
Program Components
- LEARN: An experiential curriculum that allows participants to analyze how climate change has affected agricultural production and how to adapt to future climate change scenarios.
- INNOVATE: D-Lab’s co-design methodology to design and build technology and businesses.
- INCUBATE: Financing and business coaching to launch, develop, and scale climate resilient businesses.
- CONVENE: On-line platform to share best practices with women smallholder farmers throughout Latin America. To ensure sustainable program results, REAL will explore a range of contexts and community appropriate mechanisms to provide local entrepreneurs access to credit and insurance. By enhancing local capacities to better understand climate change dynamics, and to innovate in the fields of agricultural practices and business development, REAL will spark the creation of a local agricultural ecosystem that is resilient to changing weather patterns and future climate scenarios, positioning Nicaragua as a pioneer of climate change ingenuity and business resiliency in Central America.
To ensure sustainable program results, REAL will explore a range of contexts and community-appropriate mechanisms to provide local entrepreneurs access to credit and insurance.
By enhancing local capacities to better understand climate change dynamics, and to innovate in the fields of agricultural practices and business development, REAL will spark the creation of a local agricultural ecosystem that is resilient to changing weather patterns and future climate scenarios, positioning Nicaragua as a pioneer of climate change ingenuity and business resiliency in Central America.
