Agriculture and Food Security

The challenge: Boosting agricultural yields in food-scarce areas has been at the centre of the Aga Khan Foundation’s activities since it began. Agriculture remains the single largest employer in the world, providing livelihoods for 40 percent of today’s global population. The world’s 500 million small farms worldwide provide up to 80 percent of the food consumed.

However, 800 million people worldwide still lack regular access to adequate amounts of food. Adding to the traditional challenges is a changing climate that is impacting many farmers: global emissions of carbon dioxide have increased by almost 50 percent since 1990, and Himalayan snow and ice are expected to decline 20 percent by 2030.

Our solution: We invest in tangible food security and good nutrition, to ensure that everyone has enough nutritious food, every day of the year. We work with farmers to diversify the crops they produce, provide training on nutrition using local ingredients, and collaborate with governments, businesses, and communities to develop sustainable, reliable, and resilient food systems – from field to market to table.