Why Business Literacy Is Essential to Building Resilient Food Systems
By Roberta Lauretti-Bernhard & Casey Fox
Farmers globally are impacted by climatic changes. In particular, small to medium farmers suffer as they have access to fewer resources, like technology, training, and financing. Some crops are especially vulnerable like coffee and cacao, and in many countries these cash crops are small farmers’ major income and contribute significantly to GDP. Recent work in Ghana’s cocoa sector highlights an important shift in how resilience is being built across food systems. A climate-smart cocoa initiative has expanded farmer training to include business and decision-making skills alongside agricultural practices. The goal is not only to improve production or adapt to climate change, but to help farmers make informed choices that support long-term stability and livelihoods. ( Sustainable Agricultural Supply Chains Initiative )
This approach reflects a core principle that guides Grow to Market’s work. Technical knowledge alone is not enough to create strong supply and value chains or lasting food security. Farmers, food entrepreneurs, and local enterprises also need business literacy to turn skills and resources into sustainable economic opportunities.
While the project addresses technical issues like planting, organic fertilizers, seedlings, etc. the farmers needed training in key “business” related skills to ensure all the technical resources were not misspent. By integrating climate-smart knowledge with strong business skills, farmers will be better equipped to improve yields, protect their farms, and build stable incomes despite the changing climate.
The project set up the “Farmer Business School,” which includes innovative training programs that reflect many of Grow to Market’s core elements and help cocoa farmers prepare for the future of cocoa cultivation. Business literacy includes understanding costs, managing risk, planning for the future, and responding to market realities. In the face of climate uncertainty, market volatility, and unequal access to opportunity, these skills are critical. Without them, producers may adopt improved practices but still struggle to sustain incomes or access reliable markets. The Farmer Business School also features innovative training programs and a robust curriculum designed with user-friendly materials for both trainers and farmers, delivered through Farmer Business School training in partnership with COCOBOD Ghana.
At Grow to Market, we see business literacy as a foundational element of resilient food systems. Market-driven solutions require that producers and food enterprises understand how to engage with buyers, manage their operations, and make strategic decisions that strengthen both their businesses and their communities. When business literacy is absent, even well-intentioned interventions can fall short of lasting impact.
The Ghana cocoa example demonstrates how pairing technical training with business understanding empowers producers to evaluate tradeoffs, plan for risk, and adapt over time. This combination helps move producers from vulnerability toward resilience, creating pathways to stronger livelihoods and more stable food supply chains.
Grow to Market integrates business literacy into its work because resilient and equitable food systems depend on informed decision making. By supporting entrepreneurs and producers with the tools to understand markets and manage their enterprises, Grow to Market helps create food systems that are economically viable, environmentally sustainable, and capable of nourishing communities for the long term.
For more information, contact us at info@growtomarket.org
