Reducing Risk Across Food Systems

Led by: Royal Botanic Gardens Kew & CAF Development Bank Where science, philanthropy and finance converge to build resilience in agriculture SPEAKERS: Sir Andrew Steer, Chair of Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Dr. Carey Fowler, Director of Food Security Leadership Hiroshi Wago Rojas, Director of Global Partnerships at CAF Development Bank Stefan Schmitz, Executive Director of Crop Trust Dr. James Borrell, Research Leader Agrobiodiversity at Kew Dr. Jill Kowal, Research Associate in Mycology at Kew Food security is often framed as a challenge of producing more. Yet farmers face interconnected risks from climate shocks, pests and pathogens, declining soil health and volatile markets. Efforts to increase production can intensify pressure on land, biodiversity and rural livelihoods, while dependence on a narrow range of crops, diets and production regions leaves the global food system efficient but increasingly brittle. Important sources of resilience already exist in crop and genetic diversity, underutilised species, scientific collections and farmer knowledge. Advances in plant science, data systems and AI could help identify useful traits, reveal where diversity is being lost and connect these resources with researchers, breeders and farmers. This invite-only discussion will explore where closer collaboration can reduce risk and unlock investment and identify practical opportunities to strengthen food security, livelihoods and biodiversity across Latin America and Africa.Special thanks to Soane Britain for hosting this event