The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) says excessive risk is preventing promising agrifood investment opportunities from attracting finance, as a record $20.16 billion in proposed projects was presented at the Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum 2026.
The four-day forum opened at FAO headquarters with 38 countries and five regional initiatives showcasing proposed investments across staple crops, livestock, fisheries and high-value commodities including coffee and cocoa.
The event forms part of the World Food Forum (WFF), a global platform focused on transforming agrifood systems through youth, science and innovation, and investment.
Government representatives, private companies, development banks and foundations will hold bilateral meetings during the forum to examine financing arrangements, reduce investment risks and develop partnerships around country-led opportunities.
The projects are aimed at some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. They seek to strengthen value chains, raise productivity and improve livelihoods in areas where needs are greatest and the potential impact is highest.
“Building resilience requires sustained investment in agrifood systems but too many opportunities are untapped because of high risks,” said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu.
He said promising projects in many countries struggled to secure funding because investors did not have sufficient information or credible plans.
“Hand-in-Hand is changing how these investments are designed, de-risked and financed,” Qu said, adding that the initiative enables different participants to contribute their particular expertise.
The opening session included a panel moderated by FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero. It brought together the agriculture ministers of Bhutan, Jordan, Mozambique and Tajikistan, as well as senior representatives of multilateral development banks.
Building investable projects
The Investment Forum was created through FAO’s country-led, data-driven Hand-in-Hand Initiative, which identifies and helps finance agrifood priorities intended to accelerate the transformation of agrifood systems.
Its approach brings together four groups: governments, FAO, international financial institutions and private investors. Governments establish national priorities, while FAO contributes data and technical knowledge. International financial institutions help absorb early losses, and private investors provide the capital needed to expand projects.
The model is designed to overcome obstacles including limited information, weak project preparation and financial risks that can deter investment.
FAO uses geospatial intelligence, economic modelling and technical analysis to identify territories and value chains where investment could have the greatest effect. The assessments consider climate risks, soil health, infrastructure, market access, poverty and wider socioeconomic conditions, helping governments develop viable investment opportunities from their national priorities.
Since 2022, the Hand-in-Hand Initiative has supported the creation of 387 investment cases worth $47.26 billion, with the potential to benefit more than 338 million people. Financing worth $7.88 billion has either been committed or is under negotiation, while participation has grown to 87 countries.
Ecuador has mobilized more than $300 million since 2022 to implement Hand-in-Hand agrifood projects. A further $100 million is under negotiation through the World Bank-funded AGRICONNECT programme.
Nepal has reported $304 million in committed financing, with another $160 million under negotiation for Hand-in-Hand projects.
This year’s forum is the largest so far, with proposed investments of $20.16 billion that could benefit 117.8 million people. In 2025, governments presented investment cases worth $17.3 billion.
