The second edition of the Green Growth Investors Series returned to New York with the theme “Cultivating the Future: Climate Smart Agriculture.” Hosted at the Consulate General of India, the event united investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, diplomats, and industry leaders to explore the transformative role of agriculture in addressing climate change.

Agriculture, while a cornerstone of global food security and economic stability, contributes 13–21% of global greenhouse gas emissions. With climate challenges intensifying, the urgency for climate-smart practices has never been greater. This year’s edition focused on how green energy integration, AgTech, sustainable food systems, and innovative financing models can reshape the agricultural landscape into one that is both profitable and sustainable

The Green Growth Investors Series is more than a conference, it is a platform for cross-border collaboration, linking entrepreneurial ecosystems from India, USA, Israel, and the UAE. Its mission is to align government policy, private sector innovation, and investor capital to accelerate progress toward NetZero and circular economy goals.

What was discussed in the event?

Opening Segment
The evening began with a warm welcome by the Consulate, followed by an event kick-off by Aseem Trivedi (Co-Founder of Novasensa and Green Growth Investors Series). Trivedi highlighted the importance of building ecosystems that enable critical mineral recovery, renewable energy integration, and agricultural transformation at scale.

Special Address & Chief Guest Remarks
The special address (Vishal Sir, Consulate) and keynote from the Chief Guest (Consul General of UAE – pending confirmation) emphasized the need for India-led global partnerships that combine innovation with inclusivity to ensure sustainable growth in food and energy systems.

Panel 1: Investing in the Future of Food (6:30 – 7:10 PM)
Moderated by Cat Clifford (Cipher), this panel gathered leading investors to discuss where capital should flow in order to reshape the food economy. Topics included:

• Investment trends in AgTech and sustainable food systems.

• Balancing financial returns with long-term environmental impact.

• Emerging opportunities in vertical farming, regenerative agriculture, and alternative proteins.

• Key challenges in scaling innovations to mass adoption.

Panelists such as Peter C. Fusaro (Wall Street Green Summit), Rahoul Mehra (Kaplak Ventures), and Dimitris Horiatis (Bahrain Economic Development Board) brought diverse perspectives spanning sustainable finance, climate-tech venture building, and international development.

Panel 2: Advancing Climate-Smart Financing and Innovation (7:10 – 7:50 PM)
Moderated by Jason Dodier (GRAIN Ecosystem), this panel spotlighted entrepreneurs building climate-smart ventures. Discussions centered on:

• Innovative financing structures that de-risk investment in climate-smart agriculture.

• Scaling ventures like Aspire (cricket protein production) and Evergreen Innovation Platform (smallholder farmer resilience).

• Building circular models through biochar, carbon credit projects, and waste-to-energy solutions.

• The role of cross-border partnerships in accessing markets and finance.

Panelists included David Rosenberg (Aspire, ex-AeroFarms), Daniela Kandel (Evergreen Innovation Platform), and Alec (AK Global Consulting), who shared first-hand insights on navigating innovation, investment, and policy ecosystems.

Closing Segment
The event concluded with remarks from Manjusha Tipre (President, TiE New York), underscoring the importance of supporting startups and innovators working in agriculture and sustainability. The evening transitioned into networking and dinner, providing space for attendees to connect and forge collaborations.

Key points from the event

1. Agriculture’s climate challenge is urgent — contributing up to one-fifth of global GHG emissions, agriculture must transform rapidly.

2. Green energy is the backbone of sustainable farming — from solar-powered irrigation to biogas solutions, renewable integration can decarbonize agricultural operations.

3. Precision agriculture and AI — smart sensors, drones, and data platforms can optimize input use, cut waste, and improve yields.

4. Financing remains a bottleneck — investors highlighted the need for blended finance models, risk-sharing mechanisms, and climate bonds to scale climate-smart projects.

5. Entrepreneurship is driving breakthroughs — from alternative proteins to carbon credit projects, entrepreneurs are building commercially viable climate solutions.

6. Global collaboration is essential — ecosystems across India, USA, Israel, and UAE must align to accelerate innovation and investment at scale.

7. Food systems are central to NetZero pathways — achieving sustainable agriculture is not only about emissions reduction, but also food security, biodiversity, and rural livelihoods.