Beijing, 9 June 2026 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today opened the 2026 Financial Resilience in Agriculture (FRA) Community of Practice (CoP), convening policymakers, scientific researchers, practitioners, and partners from nearly 30 countries to advance solutions that strengthen smallholder farmers’ resilience to climate risks and contribute to broader progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Held from 9 to 11 June in Beijing, the three-day event serves as both the third annual FRA CoP and the 2026 Annual Forum on Agriculture, Rural Areas and Farmers ("San Nong") Insurance. It is co-hosted by UNDP’s Insurance and Risk Finance Facility (IRFF), UNDP China Country Office, China Agricultural University (CAU), and the World AgriFood Innovation Conference (WAFI) platform, with support from China Agricultural Reinsurance Corporation, the College of Economics and Management at CAU, and the National Center for Agricultural and Rural Insurance Research at CAU. 

The event brings together around 100 international delegates from across Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe alongside more than 200 Chinese representatives from the government, agricultural insurance industry and academia. These countries represent agricultural systems that are critical to global food security and agricultural supply chains, with smallholder farmers producing around one-third of the world’s food. 

Yet despite their central role in food systems, most smallholder farmers remain highly exposed to climate shocks and lack access to the financial protection needed to recover, invest, and adapt. The CoP responds to that challenge by helping countries move beyond fragmented pilots towards stronger, more integrated agricultural insurance systems. 

Building on previous FRA COP editions in India and Ethiopia, the 2026 CoP continues to expand a global community focused on translating experience into practical, system-level solutions. 

Over three days, participants have the opportunity to engage in high-level discussions, explore global best practices, and exchange experiences focused on embedding agricultural insurance into public programmes and financial systems, as well as protecting farmers from climate shocks and financial risks. 

The opening day highlighted China's experience in developing one of the world’s largest agricultural insurance systems. Supported by Chinese government authorities—including financial, agricultural, rural, and regulatory departments—agricultural reinsurance companies, primary insurers, and tech firms have actively driven policy implementation, complemented by robust theoretical research from Chinese academia.   

“Farmers are highly exposed to increasingly severe and frequent climate shocks, without the financial protection they need to recover and adapt,” said James George, UNDP Resident Representative a.i. in China. “There is an urgent need for countries to build systems that can manage risk at scale – systems that protect livelihoods, strengthen food security and underpin more stable and resilient rural economies.”  

With annual premiums exceeding USD 22.8 billion in 2025, China has become a leading global market, providing valuable theoretical and practical reference points and lessons for countries looking to build localized systems, expand coverage, and strengthen risk mitigation. 

The programme also includes the launch of a UNDP report, Government Pathways to Transform Agricultural Insurance Systems, presenting lessons from 14 country case studies and insights from global experiences. 

Against the backdrop of intensifying climate risks, strengthening financial resilience for farmers and improving agricultural risk management systems are becoming increasingly important for safeguarding food security, stabilizing rural economies, and supporting sustainable agricultural development.  

By bringing together governments, insurers, development partners, and other stakeholders, the FRA CoP provides a global platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and coordinated action to help countries move beyond isolated initiatives toward scalable, system-level solutions that better protect farmers and build more resilient agricultural systems.