FAO Investment Centre

Knowledge for Investment (K4I)

Knowledge for Investment (K4I)

The Investment Centre provides a strong evidence-based voice on investment and finance solutions through its Knowledge for Investment (K4I) 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
Bioinputs opportunities in Latin America, 3-language banner
27/05/2024
The recently published "Bioinputs: Investment Opportunities in Latin America" by the FAO Investment Centre provides a comprehensive examination of the potential role of bioinputs in the region’s transition towards more sustainable agri-food systems.
Can smallholder farmers in Honduras and Guatemala export deforestation-free coffee to the European Union
21/05/2024
The recently agreed European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is set to transform coffee production in Central America, bringing more sustainable practices which conserve forests and the environment.
Alessandro Marini in 2024
08/02/2024
The Investment Centre is strengthening its ability to respond to the growing and evolving needs of countries and investors. Alessandro Marini, who recently joined as Chief of the newly created West and Central Africa Service, shared his thoughts on the importance of embracing change and taking risks. 
Giovanni Muñoz in 2023
23/01/2024
Giovanni Munoz, the Investment Centre's Service Chief for East and Southern Africa, reflects on a long career in the agriculture sector, his vision for the region and why getting out of one's comfort zone is good.
Latest publications
Investment Toolkits
Strengthening buyer/supplier relationships - Practical guidance for Montenegrin retailers
06/2022

Openness towards strengthening backwards linkages and local sourcing is a key factors in retailer product development and offerings in order...

Directions in Investment
Investing in carbon neutrality: Utopia or the new green wave? Challenges and opportunities for agrifood systems
06/2022

The world’s agrifood systems are on the frontlines of climate change, both...

Country Investment Highlights
Digital agriculture in action - Selected case studies from India
06/2022

Agriculture is becoming more knowledge-intensive. Access to timely, accurate information tailored to specific locations and conditions is critical to...

Country Investment Highlights
Adoption of climate technologies in the agrifood system: investment opportunities in Kazakhstan
05/2022

Agrifood systems are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and increasingly under pressure to become more resource-efficient. The sector also...

Country Investment Highlights
Adoption of climate technologies in the agrifood system: investment opportunities in the Kyrgyz Republic
05/2022

Agrifood systems are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and increasingly under pressure to become more resource-efficient. The sector also...

Country Investment Highlights
Tea sector review – Georgia
05/2022

This study was produced under an FAO-EBRD Cooperation project on reviewing the development potential of the tea sectors of Azerbaijan...

Country Investment Highlights
Tea sector review – Azerbaijan
05/2022

  This study was produced under an FAO-EBRD Cooperation project on reviewing the development potential of the tea sectors of Azerbaijan...

Investment Toolkits
Investment guidelines for youth in agrifood systems in Africa
04/2022

The Investment guidelines for youth in agrifood systems in Africa, developed jointly by FAO and the African Union Commission (AUC)...

Investment Briefs
Scaling up investments in agrifood systems for youth in Africa - What policymakers need to know
04/2022

This investment brief highlights the importance of youth as change agents and key stakeholders contributing to sustainable agrifood systems. It...

Annual Reviews
FAO Investment Centre – 2021 at a glance
03/2022

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) aims to provide sustainable agrifood investment and finance solutions to...

Country Investment Highlights
Professionalizing farmer organizations through private sector-led models - Capacity development initiatives in Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire
03/2022

One of the nine featured case studies, funded by the Agribusiness Market Ecosystems Alliance with support from IFAD, explores three...

Country Investment Highlights
Investing in youth vocational training - Professional training programme in the agropastoral and fisheries sectors in Cameroon
03/2022

One of the nine featured case studies is the Support Programme for the Renovation and Development of Professional Training in...