FAO Private Sector Advisory Group (PSAG) - Summary Report (2025)

1.    Introduction

In 2025, the Private Sector Advisory Group (PSAG) convened two meetings to advance FAO’s engagement with the private sector on global food security and nutrition.

The first session launched the information-gathering phase for shaping the FAO Strategy for Private Sector Engagement 2026–2030 (the Strategy), focusing on partnerships for resilient, inclusive, and climate-smart food systems. The second session explored the private sector’s role in global governance through the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), stressing early engagement, evidence-based policymaking, and practical uptake of CFS tools.

Together, these dialogues highlighted shared priorities: climate action, inclusivity for smallholders and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), technology-driven transformation, and enabling conditions for responsible investment. Both meetings reaffirmed that collaboration and coherent governance are essential to deliver systemic change and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

2.     PSAG Meetings during 2025

First Session: FAO Strategy for Private Sector Engagement 2026-2030 - Information Gathering Phase (6 March 2025)

The opening meeting of 2025 focused on gathering private sector insights to inform the Strategy, strengthen collaboration for transforming agri-food systems, and accelerate progress toward global food security. The consultations emphasized the urgency of building resilient, inclusive, and climate-smart systems, with the private sector positioned as a key driver of innovation, investment, and sustainability.

PSAG members agreed that achieving these objectives requires integrated approaches combining technology, knowledge-sharing, and enabling conditions for investment. Digitalization and innovation were highlighted as critical enablers, alongside the formalization of markets to ensure equitable access to value chains.

Second Session: CFS policy guidance and the private sector (12 December 2025)

The second meeting explored the private sector’s role in global food security policymaking and the use of CFS tools. Discussions highlighted the value of early and inclusive engagement, operational and market-based insights, and the need to reflect the diversity of private sector actors. The private sector holds a unique value in providing field-level evidence, market intelligence, innovation, and implementation capacity, which are essential for shaping actionable policies.

Strengthening the uptake of CFS policy guidance requires adaptable, science-based approaches that are practical, context-sensitive, and aligned with global frameworks and national and regional realities. Key enablers identified include capacity building for smallholders, and institutionalized dialogue platforms to translate global guidance into scalable solutions.

3.    Key Meeting Themes and Private Sector Insights

3.1. FAO Strategy for Private Sector Engagement (2026–2030)

• Strategic vision: The updated strategy will run until 2030, aligning with the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development. It aims to be action-oriented and inclusive, integrating technology, finance, and knowledge-sharing to drive systemic change.
• Private sector’s role: Stakeholders stressed the importance of leveraging private sector expertise to scale innovation and digitalization, while supporting capacity development to strengthen resilience.
• Challenges and urgency: Persistent barriers such as limited access to finance, fragmented markets, and climate risks were noted. De-risking mechanisms and stronger policy dialogue were identified as essential to create enabling environments.
• Technology and innovation as accelerators: Digital agriculture, data-sharing platforms, and research partnerships were seen as key to improving productivity and sustainability. Linking technological progress with biodiversity protection and climate resilience was emphasized.
• Investment conditions: Stability, predictability, and streamlined processes are prerequisites for mobilizing private capital. Proposals included regional innovation hubs and long-term public-private investment funds to scale solutions.
• Inclusive approaches: The strategy must prioritize smallholders, SMEs, and gender-sensitive models to ensure equitable benefits. Territorial clusters and integrated value chains were suggested to strengthen local capacity.
• Collaboration and governance: Stronger integration of private sector actors in decision-making, improved regulatory alignment, and enhanced communication channels were identified as critical for effective implementation. 

3.2. Private sector's role in supporting the Committee on World Food Security (CFS)

• CFS vision: The CFS is the central inclusive platform for global food security governance and policy convergence. Strengthening engagement between CFS and the private sector is essential to ensure that global guidance remains action-oriented, science-based, and responsive to evolving food system challenges.
• Private sector’s role: PSAG's members highlighted the private sector’s contribution through field-level evidence, market intelligence, innovation and implementation capacity. Leveraging this expertise early in CFS policy processes is critical to improve the feasibility, scalability, and impact of global policy guidance.
• Challenges: Participants noted persistent barriers to effective uptake of CFS tools, including limited awareness, capacity constraints, particularly for SMEs and smallholders, and regulatory gaps. Addressing these challenges through clearer frameworks, practical guidance and sustained policy dialogue were identified as priorities.
• CFS tools and guidance as enablers: CFS policy products are key instruments for promoting responsible investment and sustainable value chains when adapted to diverse contexts. Participants stressed the importance of translating global guidance into practical approaches aligned with national and regional realities.
• Investment and implementation pathways: Linking CFS guidance to investment pathways, trade frameworks and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards were identified as an opportunity to incentivize adoption and scale responsible practices across value chains, while supporting business continuity.
• Inclusive approaches: The need to reflect the diversity of private sector actors, from smallholders and SMEs to multinational companies, was emphasized, alongside targeted capacity development to enable meaningful participation and implementation.
• Collaboration and governance: Stronger, institutionalized dialogue between FAO, CFS and the private sector, including through PSAG and the Private Sector Mechanism (PSM), was seen as critical to improving policy design, coherence and uptake.

4.  Cross-Cutting Insights 

• Inclusive Engagement: Diverse private sector actors, from SMEs and smallholders to multinationals, need differentiated, accessible modalities, early involvement, and targeted capacity building, alongside formalized markets and finance access.
• Science & Data for Action: Updated datasets, private sector intelligence, and impact metrics are essential for evidence-based policies and innovation platforms linking technology, sustainability, and climate resilience.
• Responsible Investment & Coherence: CFS tools and ESG standards should underpin investment pathways and trade frameworks, supported by a “One FAO” approach with clear focal points, streamlined processes, and stronger feedback loops.
• Dialogue & Collaborative Platforms: Institutionalized dialogue, co-investment hubs, and sharing partnership models are critical to scale solutions on digitalization, climate adaptation, healthy diets, and value-chain integration.

5.    Conclusions and Next Steps

PSAG members reaffirmed a shared commitment with FAO to advancing global food security through inclusive, evidence-based and action-oriented engagement with the private sector.

Looking ahead:

• PSAG will continue to serve as a key platform for structured dialogue and input into FAO’s strategic priorities, including the implementation of the endorsed FAO Strategy for Private Sector Engagement 2026-2030 (the Strategy).
• FAO will strengthen follow-up mechanisms, enhance continuous exchange through PSAG channels, and convene four PSAG meetings in 2026, including a first-quarter session dedicated to the Strategy.
• FAO and PSAG members will work together to translate recommendations into measurable actions, supported by the circulation of the finalized Strategy and the annual PSAG report.

Together, FAO and PSAG reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that global policy guidance is grounded, informed by science, and translated into practical solutions that strengthen resilient and inclusive agrifood systems.