The Financing Agrochemical Reduction and Management (FARM) programme was officially launched in Nairobi, Kenya, in March 2024. It consists of six projects in Ecuador, India, Kenya, Laos, the Philippines, Uruguay, and Vietnam. The five-year initiative aims to catalyze investments to minimize the use of harmful agrochemicals in agrifood systems.

In many low- and middle-income countries, agricultural systems still rely heavily on Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs). In addition, the improper disposal of empty pesticide containers, is causing significant environmental damage, threatening long-term agricultural sustainability and posing public health risks. This is due to weak regulations, limited funding to transition to safer practices and a lack of awareness about non-chemical alternatives among farmers, extension officers and regulators.

That is why the programme focuses on strengthening regulatory frameworks and capacity building, but also working with banks and policymakers to reorient policy and financial resources to support farmers. FARM is financed through the 7th funding cycle of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and is led by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

FARM is projected to prevent the release of over 51,000 tons of HHPs and 20,000 tons of plastic waste, avoid 35,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, and protect over 3 million hectares of land from degradation, as farms and farmers convert to low-chemical and non-chemical alternatives.

One of the six projects, titled “FARM: Strengthening investment for adoption of alternatives and sustainable management of agrochemicals and agricultural plastics in Africa and Latin America,” is under the leadership of FAO and UNEP. This project will be implemented from 2024 to 2029 in Kenya and Uruguay, the pilot countries.

Through these efforts, the FARM programme is set to make a significant impact towards the phasing out of HHPs and promoting sustainable agricultural practices worldwide.

Photo: © UNEP/Ahmed Nayim Yussuf