The Apocalypse of Agriculture: A Cautionary Tale

If Hollywood taught us anything, it’s that the end of the world usually involves zombies. But what if the apocalypse isn’t hordes of the undead crashing through windows? What if our apocalypse was simply not being able to grow enough food to eat? Imagine a world where supermarket shelves are bare, not because of a storm or a war, but because we simply ran out of topsoil, water, and good ol’ common sense.

No, this isn’t a slow-burn science fiction. It’s an Agri-fact.

The truth is, most of our current agricultural system is, quite literally, eating itself alive. We grow crops in ways that strip the soil, waste water and pump carbon into the atmosphere like we’re in a speed race to turn Earth into Mars. We’re feeding the planet with one hand while slapping it with the other.

And here's the kicker, we actually need agriculture to save us. Not just to feed us, but to fight climate change. It's both the problem and the solution.  

With COP30 in Brazil next month, the world will gather to decide how to keep the 1.5°C dream alive. But without a serious plan to transform agriculture, we’ll be talking about climate targets with empty plates in front of us. 

Farming: The Forgotten Front Line 

Let’s face it, agriculture doesn’t get the spotlight it deserves. We praise tech innovators, green energy moguls, and Artificial Intelligence, but the humble farmer? Often overlooked. Yet farming is where climate change gets real. It's the heartbeat of our existence.  

While agriculture contributes to about a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions and uses approximately 70% of all freshwater withdrawals, it’s also one of the few sectors that could flip the script. More efficient production systems such as protected agriculture and regenerative practices - agroforestry, soil restoration, and precision irrigation can not only reduce emissions but actually sequester carbon.  

Take for example, blueberries. Research conducted through our eco.business Fund demonstrated that the production of blueberries under hydroponic systems in Mexico showed a 26% water reduction, 76% reduction in fertilizer use, 84% reduction in pesticide use, and 28% reduction in GHG emissions.* Additionally, one hectare of blueberry production requires four times less land than open-field production. That’s right, we can literally farm our way out of this mess.

But that won’t happen without capital. And COP30 is a rare opportunity to ensure agriculture gets a seat, and a loud voice, at the climate finance table. 

Capital: The Robin to Batman 

If agriculture is the Batman of our story, then capital is the sidekick Robin it desperately needs. Financing sustainable farming isn’t just a ‘nice-to-have'; it’s a lifeline. Yet right now, agri-finance is, to be blunt, underfed.

We need bold investments in climate-smart agriculture, in financial instruments that support smallholders. We need to funnel money into the actual farmers growing our beans, and potatoes.  For example, by supporting micro finance institutions in Peru through green bonds, our LAGreen Fund has been able to help small producers implement sustainable practices such as micro biodigesters, cultivate endemic potato varieties, as well as soil conservation practices.

Because this isn’t just about saving crops. It’s about food security, job creation, and climate resilience. Agriculture employs nearly 30% of the global workforce, and in many emerging markets, it’s the backbone of livelihoods. Neglecting it isn’t just a policy oversight, it’s a global risk! 

From Apocalypse to Action 

So, what can we do to avoid waking up one day to dare I say, a soy latte crisis? For starters, we must scale climate adaptation financing for agriculture. That means mobilizing private and public capital into sustainable Agri-projects. It means more impact funds, more green bonds, more results-based financing that rewards farmers for carbon sequestration, not just yield per hectare.

We need a policy that incentivizes the good stuff: land restoration, soil health, water conservation, resource efficiency, biodiversity, and penalizes the rest. We need consumers to value where their food comes from, and investors to see agriculture not as a risk, but as a resilient asset class with climate-saving potential.

And COP30 should be the rallying point. Brazil, as an agricultural powerhouse, is the perfect backdrop for putting food systems at the center of climate negotiations. If we leave agriculture as a side note, we risk making it the opening chapter of the apocalypse instead. 

Apocalypse Optional 

The apocalypse of agriculture is not inevitable. But it is optional, if we act now.

Sustainable agriculture isn’t a fringe movement anymore; it’s the main act and COP30 is our next big chance to set this in motion. But not with vague pledges, but clear commitments, serious funding, and measurable targets.

Let’s not wait for the last coffee bean to dry up. Let’s invest. Let’s adapt. Let’s farm like the future depends on it, because it does. And if we get it right, maybe the only zombie apocalypse we’ll need to worry about is the one Brad Pitt fights on Netflix. 

* Environmental & Social Management System manual for financial institutions 

Publication date: October 10, 2025