Promotion of Innovation in Agriculture (i4Ag)
Supporting gender-responsive, climate-smart solutions that deliver measurable impact from farm to value chain
Funding Innovations That Transform Agrifood Systems
The Fund for the Promotion of Innovation in Agriculture (i4Ag) turns promising ideas into scalable, sustainable impact. As part of BMZ’s Special Initiative “Transformation of Agricultural and Food Systems”, we fund innovations and projects in technology, partnerships, and processes.
Our funding covers the areas of mechanisation, digitalisation, renewable energy, agricultural research and consulting, agricultural policy, and private sector cooperations. We help innovators build viable, gender-responsive business models and accelerate uptake through knowledge platforms, peer learning, and coalition-building.
When shocks hit food systems, we mobilize rapid support, from food preservation and seed and machinery provision to hands-on training in sustainable cultivation.
Aligned with the SDGs, our work strengthens smallholder farms, raises incomes and quality employment, and protects soil, water, and biodiversity.
Our Projects
Empowering Change Through Collaboration and Impact
Our thematic focus spans gender-responsive agritech and practices that strengthen food security, help smallholder farmers adapt to climate change, and protect natural resources including soil, water, and biodiversity.
We are committed to advancing gender equality and increasing women’s participation and leadership along agricultural value chains. We further integrate renewable energy and energy-efficiency solutions to enhance productivity and resilience, while supporting climate resilience and emissions reduction across the sector.
The i4Ag portfolio comprises 30 project initiatives designed to deliver tangible results. We combine dedicated innovation funding with agile rapid-response measures, enabling both depth of technical support and the flexibility to act when it matters most.
With a systems perspective that connects supply chains, digital solutions, and climate-smart approaches, we unlock synergies between themes and partners. Acting as an anchor for collaboration and a catalyst for co-financing, we help crowd in expertise, capital, and networks to amplify impact.
Above all, we treat innovation as the engine of transformation: moving beyond pilots to achieve sustained, system-level change in agrifood systems.
If you are looking to co-design, test, and scale solutions that deliver measurable outcomes for farmers, value chains, and the climate, feel free to get in touch with our portfolio manager, Sarah-Kay Schotte.
