Welcome

We are pleased to announce that the next Cracking the Nut conference will take place October 2024 in Nigeria

Building on Cracking the Nut® 2023, which focused on reducing risk in rural and agricultural investment, Cracking the Nut® 2024 will focus on creative ways to leverage public and private sector investment to support climate adaptations in agriculture. Climate change is accelerating at a rapid pace, and with it the world will continue to experience food shortages, price hikes, and food insecurity. This learning event aims to address the critical need for investment in agriculture to both mitigate the effects of climate change and promote adaptation to climate-related shocks.

Connexus Corporation is working with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Nigeria, DAI, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), ACDI/VOCA, and Plethora Design to organize a two-day conference, which will spotlight the underutilization of climate finance for adaptation solutions and explore the business case of using climate finance to support adaptation within agriculture and food systems. Through engaging discussions and breakout sessions, this collaborative learning event will bring together leading experts, including representatives from private enterprises, governments, donors, and development practitioners, to share experiences and insights into reducing greenhouse gas emissions and implementing climate-smart technologies in agriculture. The conference will engage an Advisory Committee, including agents of change in environment and natural resources, rural and agricultural development, and business and investment, who will help to identify interesting speakers and participate in a competitive selection of break‐out session presentations.

Cracking the Nut 2024 will provide a demand‐driven, collaborative learning space where participants share experiences and best practices on innovative approaches to increasing investment in climate mitigation and adaptation in the agricultural sector to prepare for accelerated climate change. This event will bring together approximately 300 of the world’s relevant stakeholders to discuss “tough nuts” related to appropriate approaches for blended finance and smart subsidies, including the themes below.

Our Themes

Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions associated with agriculture and food production

How can agro-forestry be used to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions? What are creative approaches to mitigating methane emissions in the dairy sector? What is the business case for investing in these approaches?

Supporting climate smart adaptations in agriculture

To what extent can smallholder farmers be expected to invest in climate smart and/or regenerative agriculture? How can farmers be convinced to change their behaviors and practices? What incentives are needed to support the transition from traditional to adaptive agriculture?

Integrating climate mitigation and adaptation along the food chain

What business models are most effective in simultaneously supporting climate mitigation and adaptation? What are creative forms of partnership and collaboration to support climate mitigation and adaptation in food and agricultural supply chains?