In 2011 CCAFS, the CGIAR Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security Programme (CCAFS) developed a climate analogue tool, which they wished to trial in a process of farmer exchanges, to explore what 'farms of the future' might look like and to support adaptation. Using climate modelling (e.g. projections of climate in 2030) farmers in the CCAFS benchmark sites, (where they are working for 10 years on climate adaptation), would be supported to visit analogue sites and identify options for adaptation.

The overall objective of this project is "to develop and validate a methodology to assess the 'Farms of the Future' approach as a means of strengthening the adaptive capacity of farmers and other AIS stakeholders".

The Natural Resources Institute (NRI) was commissioned to undertake this project in East and West Africa, beginning in Autumn 2011 and finishing in early 2013.

The project team has been led by Valerie Nelson and Richard Lamboll from the Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, and Nick Nathaniels, an independent consultant, who led on the participatory video element.

In Tanzania Lebai Nsemwa, George Sayula and Juma Wickama were the lead facilitation team. In Ghana the lead facilitators were Jesse Naab, CCAFS benchmark coordinator and Matthew Zaabelle, Ghana participatory video coordinator. The CCAFS regional staff – Maren Radeny and Catherine Mungai, from ILRI/CCAFS East Africa regional coordinator, participated in the planning and study tour respectively. Abdoulaye Moussa, ICRISAT, and West Africa regional coordinator, adaptation, CCAFS, played a key role in coordinating the different parties and participated in the study tour.

In CCAFS the global coordination team for this Farms of the Future project are Andy Jarvis and Osana Bonilla-Findji, of the adaptation to climate change theme, have been providing overall project oversight, with inputs from climate modeller Flora Mer.