From Climate Risk to Market Opportunity – Building Resilient Agriculture & Water Systems
Introduction and Context of the Panel
Climate change is no longer abstract –it is already reshaping agriculture across South Asia. and water systems that sustain rural livelihoods. Erratic rainfall, groundwater stress, extreme weather events, and shifting crop patterns are forcing a fundamental question:
Is resilience a profit engine — or just insurance against failure?
Agriculture and water systems sit at the Centre of this transformation. Yet scaling climatesmart solutions require more than technology pilots. It requires:
• Bankable business models
• Smart capital deployment
• Catalytic public and grant support • Adaptive policy frameworks
• Strong last-mile institutions
• Cross-border learning
This panel brings together leaders from finance, innovation, philanthropy, and startups to examine how resilience can move:
• From pilot to platform
• From risk mitigation to growth strategy
• From fragmented efforts to ecosystem collaboration
Attention will be to identify the differences and complementarities between India and Sri Lanka - and the opportunities this creates for startups and investors in both directions.
Objectives of the Discussion
o Position Resilience as an Economic Strategy:
Explore how climate resilience in agriculture and water can unlock new markets, financing instruments, and competitive advantages.
o Bridge Innovation and Capital:
Provide startups and ecosystem players with forward-looking perspectives on emerging resilience trends, investment priorities, and scalable models in climate-smart and circular sectors. Examine how startups, investors, and public institutions can move beyond pilots and accelerate scalable models.
o Unlock India-Sri Lanka/South–South Learning Pathways: Identify what the two ecosystems can learn from each other — and where cross-border collaboration creates opportunity
o Showcase Practical Leadership:
Highlight actionable examples from startups and ecosystem actors working at the frontline of resilience innovation.