We hosted our seventh Cracking the Nut conference in Washington, D.C. on March 1-2, 2016 at the Enrique V. Igelsias Conference Center. Connexus worked with the Inter-American Development Bank, Catholic Relief Services and USAID to organize a two-day learning event, which highlighted changes being made to “regenerate” rural and agricultural market development and financial inclusion in developing countries.

Our Themes

Regenerating Rural and Agricultural Landscapes

How can public and private sector collaborate to restore deforested areas, depleted soils and scarce water supplies, while improving agricultural productivity? What incentives do companies offer to encourage their farmers to protect the environment and to apply agro-forestry and other climate-smart approaches? What models and technologies are cost effective for motivating small farmers to adapt their methods to protect soil, ground cover and natural habitats?

Financing Environmentally Sustainable Development

How can we ensure that all farmers, including women and youth, have access to finance, markets, fair prices and climate-smart technical assistance? What types of finance are needed to rebuild the environment and economic potential of areas where natural resources have been exhausted? How can we reduce risk and increase lending to scale innovative climate-smart technologies?

Encouraging Investment in Climate-smart Agriculture

How can the private sector profitably invest in climate-smart agriculture? What technologies and investments can be made today to protect water and soil resources tomorrow? How can governments balance environmental protection policies with a desire to attract investments in rural and agricultural development?

Cracking the Nut 2016

Our Themes

Regenerating Rural and Agricultural Landscapes

Financing Environmentally Sustainable Development

Encouraging Investment in Climate-smart Agriculture