Innovation and Knowledge for Investment (IK4I)
The Investment Centre provides a strong evidence-based voice on investment and finance solutions through its Innovation and Knowledge for Investment (IK4I) work.
By harnessing FAO’s technical expertise and leveraging partnerships with key financing and research institutions, the Centre fills critical knowledge gaps. It also shares the latest thinking and practical tools to support investment.
The growing body of investment knowledge products covers a wide range of topics – from scaling up agrifood investments for and by youth in Africa, to decarbonizing agrifood systems, among many others.
Latest stories
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Sustainability-linked loans and the transition to more sustainable agrifood systems
02/06/2026
Agrifood systems are under growing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect biodiversity, improve water stewardship and ensure more sustainable production practices. Financial institutions are increasingly expected to support this transition by integrating sustainability considerations into lending decisions.
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 one way to bridge the huge agrifood systems financing gap, which stands at hundreds of billions of USD. FAO’s new investment brief – “Dos and don'ts of blended finance in agrifood systems: the case of investment funds” – carried out in the context of its collaboration with the European Union, aims to help public and private investors make the best use of blended finance in agrifood systems.
Investing in fresh, safe and export-ready horticulture in Egypt
10/03/2026
Egypt’s horticulture exports have excellent potential for growth in European and other global markets, especially with strategic investments in food safety and quality, sustainability and supply chain infrastructure. These are some of the findings of a study conducted by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the FAO Investment Centre, with support from the European Union through EBRD’s Trade and Competitiveness Programme.
New book traces the FAO Investment Centre’s evolution over its first 60 years
19/12/2025
For over six decades, the FAO Investment Centre has helped countries invest in agrifood systems to reduce hunger, poverty and malnutrition and advance sustainable development.
A new publication, “The FAO Investment Centre, 60 Years Young, 1964–2024”, traces the Centre’s evolution over its first 60 years.
Latest publications
Country Investment Highlights
Motivating farmers' market-oriented production: Smallholder horticulture empowerment and promotion approach in Kenya
10/2021
One of the nine featured case studies is Kenya’s Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion Approach, which provides technical and soft skills...
Country Investment Highlights
Jharkhand Opportunities for Harnessing Rural Growth Programme in India
10/2021
nvesting in farmers – or agriculture human capital – is crucial to...
Investment Toolkits
Renewable energy for agrifood chains: Investing in solar energy in Rwanda
09/2021
This report presents a structured approach to identify and estimate the market size of specific renewable energy technologies that have the potential...
Country Investment Highlights
Strengthening smallholder producers' skills and market access: Productive Alliance Programme in Chile
09/2021
This study analyses the impact of Chile´s Productive Alliance Programme (PAP) in terms of human capital development among small farmers. The programme,...
Investment Briefs
Investment planning for supply to agro-industrial parks: Lessons from sub-Saharan Africa
09/2021
This brief highlights potential challenges faced to increase agricultural production and improve supply chains when setting up agro-industrial parks,...
Annual Reviews
FAO Investment Centre - 2020 at a glance
07/2021
Making food systems more sustainable is not just about reducing carbon footprints, but also about creating jobs, reducing inequalities, improving efficiencies...
Country Investment Highlights
Investing in rural households through community promoters - The Haku Wiñay/Noa Jayatai programme in Peru
07/2021
This case study report was written as a part of the Agriculture Human Capital Investment Study, funded by FAO Investment Centre and with the support...
Country Investment Highlights
Professionalizing farmer organizations through private sector-led models: Capacity development initiatives in Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire
06/2021
One of the nine featured case studies, funded by the Agribusiness Market Ecosystems Alliance with support from IFAD, explores three private sector-led...
Country Investment Highlights
Investing in youth vocational training: Professional training programme in the agropastoral and fisheries sectors in Cameroon
06/2021
One of the nine featured case studies is the Support Programme for the Renovation and Development of Professional Training in the Agropastoral and Fisheries...
Investing in farmers through public–private–producer partnerships: Rural Empowerment and Agricultural Development Scaling-up Initiative in Indonesia
06/2021
One of the nine featured case studies is the Rural Empowerment and Agricultural Development Scaling-up Initiative in Indonesia. This programme adds...
Directions in Investment
Investing in farmers: Agriculture human capital investment strategies
06/2021
A global study carried out by the FAO Investment Centre and the International Food Policy Research Institute, with support from the CGIAR Research Programme...
Country Investment Highlights
Investing in women livestock advisers and farmers: Jharkhand Opportunities for Harnessing Rural Growth Programme in India
06/2021
One of the nine featured case studies is the Jharkhand Opportunities for Harnessing Rural Growth Programme in India. This case explores investment in...