by Mark Ingram and the BAM Global Agribusiness Project Team

Mark Ingram, Andrew Jones, Glen Cox, Ratnakar Vallabhaneni 

 

Last chance to give input: Fill out the short survey by end of 1st July 2025

 

If we truly desire to reach the unreached and serve the world’s poorest, agribusiness must be central to our mission strategy.

According to the World Bank, 75% of the world’s extreme poor—those living on less than $2.15 per day—live in rural communities. And according to missions research, over 80% of the world’s unreached people groups are also found in remote, rural regions, far from city centers and the reach of traditional mission approaches.

These are not just statistics. They are a directional call. If we want to be where the Gospel is not yet known and where poverty is deepest, we must be present in rural economies. And there is no better way to do that—sustainably, relationally, and redemptively—than through agribusiness.

Agribusiness is Business as Mission

Agribusiness is more than farming. It encompasses the entire value chain—from seed to soil, to storage, to processing, to sales. In rural areas, agriculture is often the primary economic engine. And when communities lack employment, market access, or food security, faith-driven agribusiness can be a powerful means of transformation.

We’ve seen it firsthand: businesses that employ the poor, disciple team members, lift household incomes, stabilize communities, and open doors for the Gospel. In some cases, they are the only Christian presence for hundreds of kilometers. Agribusiness, done well, provides a long-term, incarnational presence that models integrity, innovation, and love.

A Listening Process is Underway

Earlier this year, BAM Global launched a Listening Survey to hear directly from those engaged in or passionate about agribusiness as mission—from farmers to funders, from ministries to market specialists. Already, a rich picture is emerging.

We’ve heard from entrepreneurs in Mali and India, processors in North Africa, researchers in Latin America, and ministry leaders across Asia-Pacific. Their feedback has revealed both challenges—such as market access, input quality, or post-harvest loss—and deep encouragement, as communities are being transformed through small farms, co-ops, and kitchen gardens aligned with Gospel witness.

But this is just the beginning. The survey remains open, and we invite more voices from every region, experience level, and role across the BAM ecosystem.

Now is the time to contribute.

It’s not too late. We want your voice in shaping the future of this movement: Have your say by end of 1st July 2025.

What Comes Next: Working Groups and Toolkits

As survey responses are compiled, our next phase will launch Listening Working Groups—small, focused cohorts that will explore critical themes like:

• Access to markets and infrastructure

• Models of spiritually integrated agribusiness

• Faith-driven investment in agriculture

• Mentorship and peer-learning needs

• Region-specific strategies

From these working groups, we aim to develop a practical BAM Agribusiness Toolkit, provide case studies and stories from the field, and form a global peer network of agribusiness professionals and ministries. This will help practitioners move from vision to viable, scalable ventures—while staying true to Kingdom purposes.

We’ve already seen strong enthusiasm: over 90% of early respondents say they are interested in joining a network, contributing case studies, or offering mentorship.

The need is clear. So is the opportunity.

Why Now?

Global trends are converging in ways that make this work urgent:

• Climate change is affecting crop reliability and food systems.

• Supply chains are under stress and volatile.

• Foreign aid is shrinking, while local economies are demanding new enterprise.

• Many mission agencies are seeking new, sustainable operating models.

In this landscape, BAM agribusiness offers a path forward. It is:

• Rooted in local realities

• Scalable, when paired with appropriate support and access to markets

• Incarnational, providing daily witness to the Gospel through relationships

• Sustainable, in that it generates its own revenue and impact

As one survey respondent put it:

“Agriculture works. If you put seed in the ground, it grows. That’s true of food. It’s also true of faith.”

Join the Movement

This is not just a conversation for those in agriculture. If you’re a pastor who wants to support rural evangelism, an investor seeking redemptive impact, a technologist, agronomist, business coach, or prayer partner—you’re needed.

Help us build a global, diverse, and Spirit-led response to the call of the Great Commission through agribusiness.

👉 Find out more here

👉 Fill out the short survey by end of 1st July 2025

👉 Register your interest in the upcoming working groups at ag@bamglobal.org

 

🌱 Let’s grow this movement together—from the ground up

Together, let’s sow seeds that yield eternal fruit.

 

 

Photo by Boudewijn Huysmans on Unsplash

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