Digital agriculture businesses are under increasing pressure to develop sustainable business models as development funding comes under strain, raising questions about how technology-driven services can continue supporting smallholder farmers beyond donor-funded projects.

The challenge will be a key focus at the 10th AgriFin Learning Event in Nairobi, Kenya, on 27 October 2026. Stakeholders from agriculture, finance, technology and development will examine how digital agriculture innovations can become commercially viable businesses while maintaining affordable and accessible services for farmers.

Sieka Gatabaki, Programme Director at Prosper Global AgriFin, said the sector must move beyond measuring how many farmers register on digital platforms and focus on whether services meet their needs and can remain operational over time.

The organisation, formerly known as Mercy Corps AgriFin, has worked since 2012 with financial institutions, agricultural technology companies, digital platforms and governments to expand access to digital agricultural and financial services across Africa and Asia.

Its programmes and partnerships have reached more than 18 million smallholder farmers. Under the AgriFin Digital Farmer II programme, 7.6 million farmers registered for services, exceeding the initial target of five million.

However, Gatabaki said registration figures alone do not demonstrate whether farmers continue using digital services or whether the businesses delivering them can sustain their operations.

Investment Shifts Towards Viable Business Models

The sustainability challenge comes as agricultural technology companies adapt to changing investment conditions and tighter development budgets.

A report titled Agtech Investment in Emerging Markets, commissioned through Mercy Corps AgriFin’s AgBase programme and developed by Briter and ISF Advisors, tracked US$4.39 billion in agricultural technology funding across 17 emerging markets between 2023 and the third quarter of 2025.

The research covered more than 900 deals, 700 funded companies and 900 funders. Its findings indicated that investment activity had stabilised following the market correction after 2022, although the recovery varied across markets.

The findings highlight the importance of assessing whether agricultural technology businesses can generate sufficient revenue and secure appropriate financing to support long-term operations.

Gatabaki said investment decisions should reflect each business’s stage of development, market conditions and funding requirements. Development finance can help establish evidence, test solutions and open markets, but businesses also need a credible path towards financial sustainability.

The upcoming learning event will examine how investors, financial institutions and development partners can direct capital towards viable agricultural technology businesses while using development support to address barriers that prevent promising solutions from reaching farmers.

Connecting Services for Smallholder Farmers

Beyond financing, smallholder farmers need access to quality agricultural inputs, markets, technical advice, weather information and tools to manage production risks. These services are often delivered through separate systems, creating gaps that can make it difficult for farmers to obtain the support they need.

Connecting digital financial services with agricultural advice, market access and climate information could improve service delivery while helping businesses and financial institutions reach farmers more effectively.

The event will explore opportunities for technology providers, governments, financial institutions and development partners to build more integrated agricultural service models.

Weather and climate services will also feature in discussions, particularly their role in helping farmers make informed production decisions and manage risks associated with increasingly uncertain weather conditions.

However, sustaining these services will require financing models that account for both their commercial potential and their wider benefits to agricultural communities.

Data, Digital Safety and Emerging Technologies

The learning event will also feature masterclasses on trusted data ecosystems for agricultural finance, sustainable agricultural payment systems, and digital safety and security.

An artificial intelligence showcase and an exhibition featuring more than 15 exhibitors will highlight emerging technologies and practical solutions for the agricultural sector.

Gatabaki emphasised that responsible data management, digital safety and inclusion must remain central as technology becomes more deeply embedded in agricultural services.

The discussions come at a critical time for digital agriculture, as businesses and their partners seek to turn successful pilot projects into services that can operate at scale. The long-term challenge will be to combine suitable financing, strong partnerships and genuine farmer demand to ensure digital solutions remain accessible and commercially sustainable beyond individual donor-funded programmes.