Dr Maria Balta from Kent Business School has been awarded funding as Co-Investigator on a major international research project exploring how conservation agriculture can help smallholder women farmers adapt to the growing challenges of climate change.
The collaborative project, titled ‘Building Resilience: How Conservation Agriculture Can Help Smallholder Women Farmers Adapt to Climate Change (2024–2027)’, brings together academic experts and partners from King’s College London, University of Kent, University of Surrey, and institutions across Canada, Brazil and Nigeria. It is jointly funded by UKRI-ESRC (UK), NFRF (Canada) and FAPESP (Brazil), with a total budget of approximately $1.3 million.
Climate change is having an increasingly devastating impact on agricultural communities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as Brazil and Nigeria. Smallholder women farmers are especially vulnerable, often facing limited access to resources and systemic socioeconomic challenges.
This project seeks to examine how cost-effective, sustainable farming practices can offer a route to resilience. Conservation agriculture — including techniques like crop rotation, minimal soil disturbance, and permanent soil cover — is recognised as a key strategy to protect livelihoods, preserve the environment, and enhance food security.
The project will run for three years, beginning in April 2024, with the following core aims:
- To explore existing conservation agriculture practices among smallholder women farmers in Nigeria and Brazil, identifying benefits, gaps, and resource needs
- To provide training and pilot funding that empowers these women and addresses the physical and socioeconomic challenges they face
- To co-produce evidence-based policy recommendations that promote climate resilience and elevate the socioeconomic status of women in agriculture
Dr Balta’s involvement further demonstrates Kent Business School’s commitment to research with real-world impact — supporting inclusive growth, sustainability, and international collaboration.
“We’re proud to be part of a project that not only contributes to climate resilience but also supports the empowerment of women farmers globally,” said Dr Balta.