We’re delighted to feature insights from Matthew Kaercher, a seasoned consultant and collaborator at Esipick, who brings deep expertise in product innovation, systems thinking, and digital transformation. With a background spanning global markets and sustainability-focused technology, Matt combines analytical rigor with a passion for building purposeful, scalable solutions. His work with our team has been instrumental in shaping reGenesis, our platform for traceability and social impact, and his perspective continues to inspire forward-looking conversations at the intersection of technology, business, and human value.

There are roughly 608 million farms in the world, and smallholder farmers produce approximately 35% of the world’s food. Many of these farms are family-run, operating on less than 2 hectares of land. Yet, despite their significant contribution, they are often overlooked on a global scale due to a lack of access to essential resources like finance, technology, training, and market connections. This imbalance is even more pronounced in countries struggling with access to basic necessities, where smallholder farmers face immense challenges to compete and thrive. But what if we could change that by applying lessons from an unexpected source: video games?

In the iconic racing game Mario Kart, developers use a clever design principle known as “rubber banding.” This mechanic gives greater rewards and boosts to players trailing behind, while offering less powerful resources to frontrunners. It ensures fairness, keeps the competition exciting, and gives every player a realistic chance to succeed. This concept, beautifully explored by Andrew Bell, an associate professor at Boston University, in his paper “Mario Kart Economics: From Mario Kart to Pro-Poor Environmental Governance,” offers an inspiring framework for fostering inclusivity. Bell explains how tailored support for those at the “back of the race” can empower underserved communities without penalizing frontrunners. This concept offers a powerful lesson for real-world economic and social progress. By strategically “leveling the playing field,” governments, organizations, and stakeholders can create opportunities for disadvantaged and marginalized communities—without penalizing those who have already achieved success. Just as rubber banding keeps Mario Kart fun and engaging, adopting this principle could uplift entire communities and promote sustainable, equitable development. Inspired by this approach, REgenesis Ag is creating an ecosystem that helps the least privileged in agriculture.

Through tools like digital product passports, traceability, and access to global markets, we empower smallholder farmers and small-to-medium-sized businesses to compete on a global stage. This is the challenge we aim to solve—and our humble contribution toward a more equitable future for generations to come.

What do you think? How can we ensure that smallholder farmers, who produce so much of our food, have the resources they need to thrive? Do you think applying principles from gaming, like fairness and support for those lagging behind, can truly inspire change in agriculture? What do you think global stakeholders can do differently to create a fairer system for farmers worldwide? How might we apply this concept beyond agriculture—what other industries could benefit from ‘leveling the playing field’? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences as we work together to make this vision a reality.