The complex challenge of increasing food production while mitigating carbon dioxide emissions, building resilience to climate change, and reducing the burden of agriculture on natural resources requires innovative approaches. Promising strategies include increasing access to mechanization and adopting modern fertilization processes that contribute to climate change adaptation efforts, or the use of improved seeds. To pursue such changes farmers and others along value chains need greater access to financial resources, especially in low- and middle-income countries with high concentrations of smallholders.