Private Investment
Transforming the world’s agrifood systems to be greener, fairer and more resilient calls for billions of dollars in new investments. Public funding alone is not enough. That is why the FAO Investment Centre works with governments and public and private partners to create the enabling conditions that attract greater and more responsible private investment in the agrifood sector.
Most of the Centre’s private sector work is carried out through its partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, helping to make agribusiness development in the Bank’s countries of operation more sustainable, inclusive and efficient. That includes advisory services such as identifying investment opportunities; facilitating public-private policy dialogues; promoting greener agrifood systems; developing food safety and quality standards and sustainable agritourism; supporting investment in digital solutions; and diversifying exports.
Initiatives
Latest stories
Serbia strengthens national expertise in carbon accounting for agrifood systems
22/05/2025
A training course on strategic carbon accounting was held in Belgrade, Serbia this week to support experts and businesses with practical tools to...
Strengthening Morocco’s food safety and quality with climate-smart investment
06/05/2025
Morocco is strengthening its agrifood sector through a new initiative designed to boost climate resilience, enhance food safety and support small-scale...
An integrated landscape approach to restore Lebanon’s Upper Litani Basin
05/05/2025
The FAO Investment Centre partnered with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to design the Restoring Ecosystem Connectivity for...
Serbia’s efforts to digitally transform its land administration systems are paying off
28/04/2025
Businesses, startup companies, government and municipal institutions can use the GeoSerbia data and services to create their own tech solutions and...
Latest publications
Building resilience in urban food logistics systems
11/2024
This report explores the transformative impact of recent global disruptions on urban food logistics. Set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions, it addresses critical challenges such as supply chain resilience, evolving consumer demand, and the need for sustainable infrastructure.
Towards a new generation of climate-efficient agrifood systems infrastructure - Conceptual framework and analytical review
11/2024
This report aims to shed light on the need for greater and smarter investments in AFS infrastructure, and how they can contribute to global economic, climate and social challenges.
Supporting development finance institutions financing private agrifood investments
11/2024
The Investment Centre acts as a bridge between countries and financing partners to create the enabling conditions for greater public and private investment to accelerate the transformation to more sustainable agrifood systems.
FAO Investment Centre - 2023 at a glance
07/2024
FAO, through its Investment Centre, works with partners to provide tailored, scalable investment and finance solutions to help countries achieve better, more sustainable outcomes. This latest edition looks at the Centre’s achievements in 2023 while also identifying priority areas for the coming years.
Understanding microfinance interest rates in agrifood
07/2024
Interest rates have been a contentious issue in microfinance for many years. While higher interest rates for microloans are often justified by the underlying costs of making small loans in rural areas, this is not always the case.