Sustainable Agriculture Foundation (SAF)

What Sustainable Agriculture Foundation (SAF) does

The Sustainable Agriculture Foundation (SAF) is a Swiss-based non-profit foundation headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, operating across Bangladesh, India, Kenya, and Indonesia with additional independent local entities in Mali, Nigeria, and Senegal. The organization traces a 45-year legacy originating as the Ciba-Geigy Foundation in 1981, later becoming the Novartis Foundation (1996) and then the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture (SFSA, 2001), before being spun off as an independent entity branded SAF in 2024. SAF delivers demand-led agricultural innovations to smallholder farmers through six thematic areas: climate-smart agriculture, agri-entrepreneurship (centered on the Farmers' Hub model), insurance and risk mitigation, food and nutrition, carbon credit, and seed systems.

SAF's core product is the Farmers' Hub — a rural entrepreneur-operated one-stop service platform serving 500–1,000 smallholders per hub and linking them to 10–20 buyers. Supporting digital products include the Global Agricultural Technology Evaluator (GATE) web platform for stage-gate validation of climate-smart innovations; the SFSA Field Trial App (web and Android) for field trial data collection, with a reported 70% efficiency improvement; the eFarmersHub digital platform launched in March 2018; the Climate-Smart Decision Guide Tool (Excel-based, co-created with the Natural Resources Institute at the University of Greenwich); the Resilience Engine insurtech platform providing actuarial information, climate data library, and insurance marketplace services; and the Seeds2B (Seeds-to-Business) program launched in 2012 for market-oriented seed systems. An additional open-access Seed Variety Commercialization Toolkit is offered online. Reported impact includes over 2 million smallholders reached with validated innovations, 421,767 farmers insured and 574,000+ policies sold in Bangladesh, USD 14.4M+ in crop value insured across 15 seasons, and a CCICTA carbon credit project expected to generate USD 14.5M in credits and 1.3 million tCO2eq in GHG reductions over 20 years.

SAF operates as a grant-funded foundation with no commercial product revenue; funding flows from grants, donations, and programmatic partnerships with foundations, corporations, governments, and development agencies including the Gates Foundation, USAID, The Coca-Cola Foundation, the Swiss Embassy, InsuResilience Solutions Fund, HSBC, and the World Bank's BioCarbon Fund. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, executed through a network of local, regional, and international partners. Distribution is partnership-based via Farmers' Hubs, micro-finance institutions (BRAC, ESDO, GUK), contract farming units, the Syngenta Krishite retailer network, and government extension services (notably Bangladesh's DAE). The organization is led by Executive Director Simon Winter and has 34 employees.

Name

Sustainable Agriculture Foundation (SAF)

Legal name

Sustainable Agriculture Foundation

Website

https://susagfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Sustainable Agriculture Foundation (SAF) is a Swiss-based non-profit foundation that delivers climate-smart agricultural innovations, seed systems, insurance, and carbon credit programs to smallholder farmers across Asia and Africa through its Farmers' Hub network, GATE validation platform, and insurtech tooling.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Development Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Support Activities for Crop Production (11511), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Funds (FSANAJAE)

Keywords

• Sustainable agriculture programs
• Smallholder farmer services
• Climate-smart agriculture
• Agricultural insurance products
• Seed systems development

Headquarters

HQ city

Basel

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants and Donations: SAF operates as a Swiss-based not-for-profit organization funded through grants, donations, and programmatic partnerships with foundations, corporations, governments, and development agencies. The organization does not generate commercial revenue from product sales.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SAF is a Swiss-based non-profit foundation that delivers demand-led agricultural innovations to smallholder farmers in developing countries through its Farmers' Hub network (rural entrepreneur-operated one-stop service platforms serving 500-1,000 farmers each), Seeds2B seed systems program, agricultural insurance products, carbon credit programs, and a portfolio of proprietary digital platforms (GATE, eFarmersHub, SFSA Field Trial App, Resilience Engine). Its activities are funded through grants and donations from foundations, governments, and development agencies, with no commercial product sales.

Product overview

Sustainable Agriculture Foundation (SAF) operates as a multi-program organization offering a portfolio of interconnected agricultural development products and digital tools. The core offering includes the Farmers' Hub model (a one-stop service platform for smallholders), the Seeds2B seed systems program, and the GATE platform for validating climate-smart agricultural innovations. These are supported by digital tools including the SFSA Field Trial App (Android/web application for field data collection), the eFarmersHub digital platform, the Climate-Smart Decision Guide Tool (Excel-based CSA evaluation), and the Resilience Engine insurtech platform. Additional offerings include the Seed Variety Commercialization Toolkit. SAF's products work together to deliver innovations to smallholder farmers through Farmers' Hubs serving as the primary delivery channel, while Seeds2B and GATE ensure quality seeds and validated technologies reach the market.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Farmers' Hub A rural business model providing smallholder farmers with access to quality inputs, agricultural machines, markets, finance, and agronomic knowledge through a one-stop commercial service platform. Each Hub serves 500-1,000 farmers and links them to 10-20 buyers. Hubs are owned by rural entrepreneurs, agribusiness suppliers, or farmers' cooperatives.
• Seeds2B (Seeds-to-Business) A market-oriented seed systems program that helps smallholder farmers access quality seeds of improved varieties through public-private partnerships along seed and grain value chains.
• GATE (Global Agricultural Technology Evaluator) A web-based platform that validates climate-smart agricultural innovations using a stage-gate model, delivering resilience and adaptive innovations to smallholders to improve their livelihoods in the context of climate change.
• SFSA Field Trial App A robust web and Android mobile application designed for field trial design implementation, data collection, and management. Has improved data collection, transmission, and management efficiencies by over 70%.
• eFarmersHub A digital platform supporting the Farmers' Hub program offerings, enabling rural entrepreneurs and smallholder farmers to access services digitally, manage transactions, training, and market linkages.
• Climate-Smart Decision Guide Tool An Excel-based method for evaluating Climate-Smart Agriculture interventions, examining five different result pathways to assess impacts on Sustainable Production, Adaptation, and Mitigation.
• Resilience Engine An insurtech platform providing actuarial information, a climate data library, and an insurance marketplace for agricultural micro-insurance products.
• Seed Variety Commercialization Toolkit A comprehensive open-access resource designed to support the successful commercialization of improved seed varieties, covering a 12-stage commercialization pathway from pre-breeding analysis to market launch.
• Agricultural Insurance Products Tailored agricultural insurance products including weather index-based crop insurance and micro-insurance products designed for smallholder farmers in Bangladesh and East Africa (via ACRE Africa). 421,767 smallholders insured in Bangladesh with 574,527 policies sold and 143,705 farmers receiving payouts.
• CCICTA Carbon Credit Program A carbon credit program assisting farmers in adopting sustainable agroforestry and field crop practices, linking them to carbon credit markets. Expected to generate 1.3 million tCO2eq in emission reductions over 20 years across 10,000 hectares with USD 14.5 million in carbon credits, majority of benefits directed to farmers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2 million smallholder farmers reached with validated agricultural innovations
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) - BangladeshcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 September 2024Partnership through Rajshahi Division Agriculture Development Project (RADP) to scale Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation technology across the drought-affected Barind Tract. Letter of Agreement signed on 29 September 2024.
• East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation (EWS-KT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023Five-year collaborative partnership announced October 2023 to uplift smallholder farming communities in Africa and Asia. EWS-KT brings experience in training farmers on sustainable agronomic techniques while SAF specializes in market connectivity and finance accessibility.
• Africa Climate Risk Enterprise (ACRE Africa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACRE Africa is an independent social enterprise created by SAF in 2014, focused on agricultural insurance in East Africa. Has developed innovative micro-insurance products and insured over 1.7 million farmers across three countries. Simon Winter chairs the ACRE Africa board.
• Varaha Climate AG Private LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNature-based climate solutions provider specializing in steering emissions towards net zero. Supporting CCICTA carbon credit project with expertise in carbon market engagement.
• DASCOH FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal implementation partner in Bangladesh instrumental in reaching out to farmers and influencing their revenue and environment positively for the CCICTA project.
• 2030 Water Resources Group (2030 WRG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinator of IWET project and partner in CCICTA carbon credit initiative, working on sustainable water management in Bangladesh's Barind region.
• Natural Resources Institute (NRI) - University of GreenwichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-creation of Climate-Smart Decision Guide tool with NRI for evaluating Climate-Smart Agriculture interventions, bringing together partner representatives, academics, and experts.
• IFPRI (International Food Policy Research Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose collaboration on selection and write-up of case studies providing guidance for future youth entrepreneurship programs in agriculture across Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, and Nigeria.
• Heifer InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership around the Ayute Africa Challenge competition to promote agricultural innovation in Senegal, encouraging technology adoption by young people in the agricultural sector.
• CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIMMYT-led SASAS (Sustainable Agri Food Systems Approach for Sudan) consortium with USAID Feed the Future initiative. SFSA joined consortium in June 2023 to deliver holistic support to smallholder farmers in Sudan.
• SwisscontactcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementation partner for Surokkha crop insurance project in Bangladesh, managing the Bangladesh Microinsurance Market Development Project.
• Sadharan Bima Corporation (SBC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment-owned insurance company underwriting agricultural insurance products in Bangladesh. Paid out $771,986 to 143,705 farmers by late 2022.
• Green Delta Insurance Company Limited (GDIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate insurance company underwriting agricultural insurance products in Bangladesh alongside Sadharan Bima Corporation.
• TOSCI (Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute)coreOthersNational seed certifier confirming QDS producers follow best practice. Trains farmers on necessary regulations and practices for Quality Declared Seeds.
• TARI (Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute)coreOthersNational agricultural research institute partnering on seed systems, training QDS farmers and supporting EGS (Early Generation Seed) production.
• Community Agribusiness Partners (CAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal NGO partnering on AVISA project, bringing together TARI, unions of co-operatives, QDS groups and grain producers in Iringa, Tanzania.
• Ebdaa Microfinance Bank (Sudan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided financing to 2,000 farmers through direct finance and post-harvest financing in SASAS project Sudan, enabling access to machinery, fertilizer, and essential inputs.
• IDH (Initiative for Sustainable Trade)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Potato for Livelihoods Project through IDH's Initiative for Sustainable Landscapes (ISLA), providing smallholders with farming options that help avoid deforestation.
• Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Nutrition in City Ecosystems (NICE) project consortium, championing locally-led action to improve nutrition in urban environments.
• ETH ZürichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in NICE project consortium working on urban nutrition and food systems.
• Sight and Life (SAL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in NICE project consortium focusing on nutrition improvement in urban ecosystems.
• Evergreen Impact Platform (EIP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with GATE platform in India for delivering resilience and adaptive innovations to smallholders.
• AfricaRiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in rice programs including PEJERIZ and RAP in Senegal, promoting youth employment and digital tools in agricultural extension.
• SAED (Senegal)minorOthersGovernment agency in Senegal River Valley participating in SCOOPAPS cooperative formation for rice value chain service providers.

Scale indicators27 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Acumen: Impact investment fund targeting poverty through patient capital in agriculture, energy, and health across Africa and South Asia. Comparable in serving smallholder agricultural markets with blended-capital approaches, though structured as investment fund rather than grantmaking foundation.
• One Acre Fund: Provides smallholder farmers in East Africa with access to financing, training, and market access through a hub-based service model. Directly comparable to SAF's Farmers' Hub approach, both targeting resource-constrained smallholders with integrated input, finance, and advisory bundles.
• Self Help Africa: International development organization working with smallholder farmers in Africa on sustainable agriculture, enterprise development, and climate adaptation. Directly comparable mission and target beneficiaries, with overlap in country presence and integrated approach to farmer support.
• TechnoServe: International nonprofit promoting business solutions to poverty in the developing world, with strong focus on agricultural value chains and smallholder market access. Highly comparable to SAF given shared agricultural development focus and Simon Winter's prior executive role at TechnoServe.
• Heifer International: Global nonprofit working to end hunger and poverty through sustainable agriculture, livestock, and smallholder farmer support. Existing SAF partner via the Ayute Africa Challenge in Senegal; serves similar smallholder beneficiaries with comparable value-chain and capacity-building programs.
• AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa): African-led institution focused on transforming smallholder agriculture across Africa through seed systems, soil health, and market access. Comparable to SAF-A's mission and geographic focus, with similar funder profile (Gates Foundation) and seed-systems program overlap with SAF's Seeds2B.
• Farm Africa: UK-based NGO working with smallholder farmers in East Africa on sustainable agriculture, climate-smart practices, and market access. Directly comparable in mission, geography (Kenya, Tanzania overlap with SAF), and approach to smallholder resilience and value-chain development.

Broad incumbents

• CIMMYT: International agricultural research center focused on maize and wheat systems for developing countries. Existing SAF partner via the AVISA and SASAS consortia; comparable through shared focus on seed systems and smallholder productivity, though operates primarily as a research institution rather than field-implementer.
• World Food Programme: UN food assistance agency addressing hunger and food security globally, including through smallholder support and climate adaptation programs. Broad incumbent in food and agriculture space; comparable mission around smallholder resilience though vastly larger scale and emergency-response orientation.
• CGIAR: Global agricultural research partnership comprising 15 international centers. Comparable to SAF in pursuing food security and smallholder outcomes through agricultural innovation, but operates at significantly larger scale and primarily through research rather than direct farmer service delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Susagfoundation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Susagfoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/Sustainable-Agriculture-Foundation-61568073779734
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sustainable-agriculture-foundation-saf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Sustainable Agriculture Foundation (SAF)