As part of its ongoing commitment to supporting developing countries in strengthening agricultural productivity, food security, market competitiveness, and agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting, AgriDENZ launched Foundations for Change — a four-part webinar learning series.
The series provides targeted advice, technical support, and training to both existing and new partners across Africa and Asia. It is designed to foster informed dialogue and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders on the key drivers, tools, and investment opportunities shaping agricultural GHG mitigation, measurement, and management.
The first webinar, “What Is Driving Change? - Emerging Market and Policy Signals”, held on 27 May 2026, examined the accelerating commercial, policy, and regulatory pressures reshaping global agriculture. Frans van Wyk, Director of Agrifusion South Africa, drew on practical regional examples to illustrate how countries and producers must navigate these shifts.
At its core, the webinar highlighted a fundamental shift: climate performance is now directly linked to trade, finance, and competitiveness. GHG emissions data is rapidly becoming a strategic asset in agricultural trade, with measurable emissions performance emerging as a key determinant of product quality, market access, and long-term value within global supply chains.
As climate compliance becomes a de facto condition for trade, countries and producers without credible emissions data and measurement systems risk exclusion from key markets, higher costs of capital, and declining competitiveness. Conversely, early movers are better positioned to capture premium markets, access climate finance, and secure a competitive advantage.
Key messages:
- Climate performance is becoming a core determinant of agricultural competitiveness: Emissions performance increasingly influences market access, trade relationships, investment decisions, and product value across global agricultural supply chains.
- Credible GHG data is now essential for participation in global markets: Buyers, regulators, and financiers increasingly require verified emissions data, traceability, and transparent reporting, making robust measurement systems a strategic necessity.
- Africa and Asia face both significant risks and major opportunities: Countries and producers that invest early in emissions measurement, reporting, and verification can strengthen competitiveness, attract climate finance, and access emerging market opportunities.
- The window to act is now (2026–2028): As market requirements tighten and climate risk becomes increasingly embedded in trade and finance, investment in MRV systems, data infrastructure, traceability, and enabling policy frameworks is critical to maintaining competitiveness and capturing future opportunities.
You can find the recording of the webinar HERE.
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