Sustainable Agriculture
Global population growth and improved economic conditions create increasing demand for food and agricultural raw materials. At the same time, agricultural activities are one of the most significant sources of carbon emissions and water use, and climate change is set to have severe impacts on food production and nutrition across the globe.
CPI research identifies pathways to implement more productive and climate-resilient agricultural practices that incorporate low emission standards and sustainable agriculture techniques. The research, analysis, and business models we develop support the scaling of sustainable agriculture practices worldwide.
We promote partnerships with public and private entities to develop financial mechanisms to fund the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices as well as work directly with policymakers in the design of more effective policies to spur sustainable growth in the agricultural sector.
Featured work
Publication
Landscape of Climate Finance for Land Use in Brazil
CPI/PUC-Rio conducted an unprecedented tracking exercise to quantify the climate-aligned financial flows directed to land use in Brazil.
Publication
Brazilian Agricultural Mitigation and Adaptation Policies: Towards Just Transition
This study presents a policy map for climate mitigation and adaptation in Brazilian agriculture, identifying the government agencies responsible for implementation and the presence of elements of social and economic justice within each policy.
Latest work
Publication
Landscape of Climate Finance for Agrifood Systems 2025
Investing in sustainable agrifood systems is critical to achieving multiple sustainable developmental goals (SDGs). This report analyzes climate finance going to global agrifood systems in 2021/22, tracking flows across climate uses, financial sources, sectors, regions, and instruments.
Publication
Sustainable Finance Flows to India’s Agriculture Sector
This report introduces a comprehensive sustainable agriculture framework developed using a value-chain approach to analyze relevant sectors, activities, policies, and key initiatives. It provides a detailed examination of financial flows in the agriculture sector during FY1 2020–21 and FY 2021-22, offering insights into public and private finance sources, intermediaries, and end-use activities across the entire agriculture value chain.
Publication
The Triple Gap in Finance for Agrifood Systems
Agrifood systems form the cornerstones of economies, societies, and ecosystems across the world, while also generating significant environmental costs. This report takes a systems-based approach to analyzing the investment needs of the agrifoods sector.
Publication
Landscape of Climate Finance for Land Use in Brazil 2021–2023
Researchers from Climate Policy Initiative/Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro CPI/PUC-Rio quantify the financial flows directed toward agriculture and forests between 2021 and 2023 that are aligned with climate objectives.
Data Visualization
Interactive Sankey (Landscape of Climate Finance for Land Use in Brazil 2021–2023)
Researchers from CPI/PUC-Rio quantify the financial flows directed toward agriculture and forests between 2021 and 2023 that are aligned with climate objectives.
Publication
Amazon Food&Forest Bioeconomy Financing Initiative
The Amazon Food&Forest Bioeconomy Financing Initiative provides financial support through a fintech platform that aims to enhance the bankability of local regenerative businesses.
