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
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Investment Briefs
Investing in people to promote agrifood transformation
09/06/2026
FAO Investment Centre and Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) have released the fourth and final brief in a series exploring how finance, prices, technology...
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Directions in Investment
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...
TERRA: expanding access to finance for Kenyan small and medium agrifood companies
01/06/2026
A EUR 30 million credit line from the Italian bank Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) to Equity Bank Kenya will ease access to finance for small and...
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...
Latest publications
Approaches to human capital investment: Lessons from experimental evidence
06/2026
This brief summarizes key findings from 44 experimental and quasi-experimental studies, assessing the impact of human capital interventions on farmer knowledge and productivity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Integrating sustainability-linked loans into agrifood finance: Opportunities and challenges
06/2026
This report summarizes the key findings and aims to inform development banks and other financial investors interested in issuing more and higher-quality SLLs to agrifood borrowers. Drawing on data collected in collaboration with the University of Florida, it combines the perspectives of commercial banks and agrifood companies to identify best practices that can be adapted to the specificities of developing economies.
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.
FAO Investment Centre 60 years young 1964–2024
12/2025
The 60-year journey of the FAO Investment Centre tells a remarkable story of technical excellence and trusted partnerships. It also reflects the vision and effort of those who laid its foundations, the dedication of those who worked hard to sustain the Centre over the years, and its ability to adapt and innovate in a rapidly changing world.