Agrifood systems are responsible for a third of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that contribute to climate change (Crippa et al., 2021). Recent research shows that the earth is reaching a dangerous tipping point where its biosphere may be shifting from a net sink to a source of atmospheric carbon in two to three decades (Duffy et al., 2021), putting into question the very possibility of agriculture in many parts of the planet. This situation of great concern presents a critical question: How can agriculture continue to feed growing populations while contributing to the urgent restoration of the planet’s ecosystems? Climate change mitigation programmes mostly aim to reduce emissions, protect natural forests and afforest abandoned areas. However, it would also be important to adequately address the issues of the two billion family farmers who cultivate a third of the planet’s surface area. About 550 million family farms – 84 percent of which are less than 2 ha – produce a significant share of the world’s food (Lowder, Sánchez and Bertini, 2021). Family farming impacts peoples’ livelihoods as well as ecosystems. Smallholder farmers are especially vulnerable to climate change because their livelihoods often depend primarily on agriculture. Further, smallholder farmers often suffer from chronic food insecurity and poverty. As such, small-scale farms are uniquely positioned to be an integral part of the global solution for climate change. Healthy soils and diverse vegetation can provide a range of ecosystems services, including but not limited to the removal of existing GHGs from the Earth’s atmosphere, agricultural emissions reductions, and mitigation of the effects of extreme weather. However, when involving smallholder farmers in developing countries in mitigation and adaptation, livelihood improvements and other rural development outcomes also need to be supported