European Union
The European Union is one of FAO’s largest voluntary funders of FAO’s programmes. The FAO Investment Centre and the European Union have stepped up their collaboration around five investment-related initiatives: AgrIntel (2018); AgrInvest (2018); Food Systems Assessments (SASTI) (2021) followed by the Sustainable Agrifood Systems Intelligence (SASI) (2022); the Global Sustainable Cocoa Initiative (2022) and Transforming and Empowering Resilient and Responsible Agribusiness (TERRA) (2025).
The AgrIntel initiative seeks to scale up direct and indirect investments in the agrifood sector through derisking financial instruments coupled with technical knowledge. Through AgrIntel, the Centre reviews and advises the EU on investment and technical assistance proposals submitted by three blended agrifood funds and one blended facility. From its launch in 2018 through 2024, these four vehicles have signed 120 agrifood transaction across emerging countries, amounting together to EUR 530 million (circa USD 582 million).
Drawing lessons from this experience, the Centre also acts as a knowledge partner offering guidance to support the European Commission’s strategic orientations and decision-making within the agrifood sector and in the field of blended finance.
In 2025, the FAO Investment Centre, the European Union and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) launched TERRA – Transforming and Empowering Resilient and Responsible Agribusiness. This innovative de-risking programme aims to boost local financial institutions’ lending to agrifood small and medium enterprises in sub-Saharan Africa through a mix of dedicated credit lines, guarantees and tailored technical assistance.
Between 2020-2024, the AgrInvest project, financed by the European Union and FAO, helped the Uganda Development Bank to increase its agrifood lending portfolio. Support included a feasibility study on a new climate finance facility, training on agri-risk management and loan appraisal, and pilot initiatives with the UN Capital Development Fund on digital finance and big data analytics.
In 2021, FAO, the European Union and the Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD), partnered with governments and national stakeholders to conduct agrifood systems assessments and consultations in 49 countries. Building on these assessments, FAO, the European Union and Agrinatura – a consortium of European research institutions – launched a second phase, Sustainable Agrifood Systems Intelligence known as SASI. The aim is to improve the availability of knowledge and guidance, globally and nationally, on the institutions, policies and investment needed to accelerate the transition to sustainable agrifood systems.
Through the European Union’s Global Sustainable Cocoa Initiative, FAO is conducting various studies on the cocoa-chocolate value chain and providing long-term technical assistance globally, regionally and in the three cocoa-producing countries of Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.
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Investment Briefs
The dos and don’ts of blended finance in agrifood systems – advice to mobilize capital for impact via investment funds
23/03/2026
Blended finance – the use of public or philanthropic money to mobilize private investment for sustainable development – quickly gained traction as...
Country Investment Highlights
Investing in fresh, safe and export-ready horticulture in Egypt
10/03/2026
How Investment in the Lobito Corridor Could Boost Zambia’s Agrifood Value Chains and Inclusive Prosperity
18/12/2025
An analysis of key value chains along the Lobito Corridor in Zambia showed that soybeans, cassava and horticulture are among the most promising value...
A look at financing opportunities for primary cocoa processing in Côte d’Ivoire
11/12/2025
The European Union, Côte d'Ivoire's leading trading partner, asked the FAO Investment Centre for assistance in estimating the country’s current and...
Latest publications
Dos and don’ts of blended finance in agrifood systems: The case of investment funds
03/2026
This paper briefly reviews the definition of blended finance and the characteristics of blended funds in agrifood systems. It then focuses on lessons learned and finally makes recommendations to fund managers and concessional investors, that is, investors expecting a financial return below market rate.
Expanding Egyptian horticultural exports to European markets: Opportunities and investment priorities
03/2026
This new study, supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the FAO Investment Centre, shows that strategic investments in food safety and quality, sustainability, and supply chain infrastructure can unlock this opportunity. The study assesses Egypt's horticultural exports, pinpointing challenges and investment opportunities to enhance the sector's competitiveness, particularly for accessing European markets.
Financing opportunities for cocoa processing in Côte d’Ivoire
11/2025
Côte d’Ivoire is the world’s leading producer and processor of cocoa beans. Its processing capacity now surpasses that of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which until recently had held the top position. The government is continuing to encourage investment in local cocoa bean processing, which could account for 70 to 80 percent of national production by 2030. This study examines the prospects for investment in primary cocoa processing and the financing needs this objective entails.
The European Union's Sustainable Cocoa Initiative and Programme
10/2025
The European Union’s Sustainable Cocoa Initiative, implemented by FAO Investment Centre together with partners (JRC, EFI, GIZ), helps governments to build a more inclusive, resilient and sustainable global cocoa value chain in support of the Global Gateway initiative. This effort brings together producing and consuming countries, as well as key stakeholders — including European consumers.
Harnessing Sargassum seaweed in the Caribbean September 2025
10/2025
The European Union has prioritized sargassum within its Global Gateway Strategy for the Caribbean, supporting countries to turn this environmental challenge into an economic opportunity. In 2024, with FAO’s technical support under the Sustainable Agrifood Systems Intelligence (SASI/SASI+) initiative, the EU Delegation in Barbados, together with the Government of Grenada, launched a process to support development of a sustainable sargassum value chain.