How can innovative finance drive climate action in the agrifood sector?
Innovative financial mechanisms and instruments, such as blended finance, green and impact bonds and sustainability-linked lending, are emerging as powerful tools to catalyze climate action in agrifood systems.
At the FAO Science and Innovation Forum 2023 – held in October as part of the World Food Forum – the FAO Investment Centre and the Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment are organizing a session on how governments, businesses, and investors are exploring and expanding innovative finance to drive climate action within agrifood systems.
Panelists from various sectors, spanning impact investment and banking, and development institutions – including the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Acumen, GAWA Capital, Goldman Sachs, and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) – will discuss how innovative finance can bridge the gap between the critical need to address climate change in agrifood systems, and the financial resources required to make a meaningful impact.
The hybrid session will be moderated by Mohamed Manssouri, Director of the FAO Investment Centre, and include a keynote presentation followed by an interactive panel discussion.
Unlocking innovative climate finance for agrifood system transformation
The session will include a discussion around financial instruments and mechanisms with potential to address critical challenges for agrifood systems, including for small-scale producers, cooperatives and agri-SMEs – including for example, green bonds, blended finance, sustainability-linked loans, carbon finance, and impact investment funds.
Mobilizing public and private capital through innovative instruments will be a crucial focus of the session. Innovative finance has strong potential to drive systemic change towards climate-resilient agrifood systems.
The panel discussion will also present examples from impact funds on how impact investments in agrifood systems can serve as catalysts for transformative change. By supporting innovative projects that tackle agrifood climate issues head-on, investors can tailor solutions.
At the same time, panelists will highlight how climate action is not only imperative; it's also a financial opportunity. Sustainable agrifood practices can deliver attractive returns while safeguarding the environment. Panelists will discuss examples of innovative solutions that can help unlock the potential of sustainable agriculture and strike a balance between financial, social and environmental impact.
Innovative Finance for Climate Action in Agrifood Systems
When: 20 October 2023 from 09:00-10:30hrs (CEST)