On 12 March 2024 (10:30 - 12:30 GMT+3), the new Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded Financing Agrochemical Reduction and Management (FARM) Programme is holding its launch in Nairobi, Kenya and online. 

The agriculture sector is a major user of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) pesticides, highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) and agricultural plastics which pose serious risks to human and environmental health. Global pesticide use has soared 74% since 1990, with over 4 million tonnes now applied annually. The negative effects are acute and long term, leading to approximately 11,000 deaths each year. In parallel, the use of agricultural plastics is increasing, with 12.5 million tonnes used yearly, in plant and animal production (and a further 37.5 million tonnes in food packaging).  

Agriculture is also a major contributor to the triple planetary crisis. It generates about one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions and is responsible for over 60 per cent of biodiversity loss. Current financial and regulatory incentives overwhelmingly favour using increasingly toxic pesticides and agricultural plastics to increase yields, rather than the adoption of less harmful alternatives and practices. 

GEF FARM

A five year, $37-million project, FARM's objective is to catalyze a framework for regulatory and financial investment in the agriculture sector to detoxify the sector by eliminating the use of the most harmful inputs to food production systems. In particular, it seeks to reduce the use of harmful pesticides and plastics in agricultural production and encourage the adoption of low and non-chemical alternatives. 

The GEF-supported FARM Programme is led by UNEP and implemented by the Asian Development Bank, UNDP, and UNIDO with execution carried out in-country by FAO and relevant country institutions in Ecuador, India, Kenya, Lao PDR, the Philippines, Uruguay and Viet Nam. The Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP) provides global coordination and knowledge management. 

The FARM Programme Launch 

The global launch of the FARM Programme will introduce the programme through a panel discussion by key value chain actors – farmers, financiers, regulators and retailers. The panel will offer their perspectives on leveraging finance and the regulatory framework to trigger sound investment decisions in farming that can reduce harmful practices.