Billionaire Bill Gates’ foundation will provide at least $1.4 billion over the next four years to help farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia access technology to adapt to extreme weather conditions.
The foundation’s chief executive, Mark Suzman, said the funding would go towards innovations such as soil mapping and biofertilizers that use microorganisms rather than chemicals to stimulate plant growth.
Gates has previously called for a shift in climate strategy away from a focus on emissions targets and toward helping the poor, who are increasingly affected by volatile weather and other climate extremes.
He said there was a lot of research and development in agriculture, but the world’s goal must be to bring those solutions to the poorest people.