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Promoting responsible investment in agriculture and food systems

Guide to assess national regulatory frameworks affecting larger-scale private investments














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    Book (stand-alone)
    Technical study
    Mapping and proposal of action plan to promote investment for the transformation of agrifood systems in the Near East and North Africa region 2025
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    The transformation of agrifood systems in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region is critical to addressing food security, environmental sustainability, and economic resilience. This report analyzes the enabling and hindering factors shaping investments in the sector, identifies policy and regulatory gaps, and proposes actionable recommendations with a phased action plan to attract investment and foster innovation.A review of policies across the region reveals a diverse landscape shaped by national priorities and global commitments. While countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have developed strong investment frameworks, others face challenges including bureaucratic inefficiencies, weak infrastructure, and inconsistent regulations. Key enablers include tax incentives, subsidies, public–private partnerships, and innovative financing models, while persistent obstacles include water scarcity, climate risks, and outdated policies.Comparisons with international best practices highlight gaps in areas such as irrigation, wastewater recycling, and integrated value chains. For example, advanced systems in the Netherlands serve as benchmarks for NENA countries. Priority areas for improvement include expanding smallholder farmers’ access to finance, modernizing irrigation, building climate resilience, and enhancing regional collaboration.The report identifies several thematic investment areas: promoting agritech solutions such as precision agriculture and smart irrigation; investing in water management through desalination and recycling; developing climate resilience strategies; and improving infrastructure, including storage, cold chains, and transport. Supporting smallholder farmers through credit access, cooperative models, and modern technologies is highlighted as essential. These priorities complement existing national strategies, such as Morocco’s Green Generation Strategy and Egypt’s Sustainable Agricultural Development Strategy.To attract and sustain investments, the report recommends strengthening policy and regulatory frameworks, simplifying administrative procedures, and standardizing investment policies. The introduction of blended finance models, alongside tax incentives and subsidies for advanced technologies, would enhance investment appeal. Capacity-building and regional platforms for sharing knowledge and best practices are also emphasized. Infrastructure investments should target reducing post-harvest losses and improving market access, leveraging public–private partnerships for large-scale projects.The proposed action plan outlines three phases: short-term reforms, pilot projects, and training; medium-term scaling of successful initiatives and infrastructure expansion; and long-term systemic transformation through sustainable and integrated agrifood systems driven by regional cooperation.
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    Project
    Factsheet
    Enhancing Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems - GCP/INT/920/GER 2020
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    Increasing investment in agriculture and food systems is critical to achieving the first two Sustainable Development Goals, the eradication of hunger and poverty. However, not only more, also better investments are required, which sustainably benefit livelihoods, the environment and communities. Against this background, a series of capacity assessments conducted by FAO have highlighted the need for targeted activities to strengthen the commitment and capacities of key stakeholders to improve the enabling environment (institutional, legal, policy and incentives frameworks) for responsible investment in agriculture and food systems. This project, which is part of the Umbrella Programme: “Supporting Responsible Investments in Agriculture and Food Systems” (PGM/MUL/2017-2021/RAI), assists in tackling these issues by advocating for, and supporting the application of the Committee on World Food Security Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI). The CFS-RAI is the first global agreement that defines how to enhance and carry out responsible investments, in order to contribute to sustainable development, and bring benefits to all actors involved, including communities, farmers, investors and the broader environment.
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    Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
    Brochure
    Promoting responsible investment in agriculture and food systems in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Successful experiences and stories from government officials 2022
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    Agriculture is the cornerstone of Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Increasing responsible investment in agriculture and food systems (RAI) is one of the most efficient strategies to enhance food security and achieve sustainable economic development. This booklet summarizes the work conducted by FAO to enhance the enabling environment for RAI in the country through strengthening the capacities of key actors and enhancing multi-stakeholder dialogue among the government, civil society organizations and the private sector. It also provides insight of the progress made and the challenges that remain through the stories of two government officials who participated in the activities conducted by FAO and its partners. This work has been done under the project "Enhancing the enabling environment for responsible investment in agriculture and food systems" funded by the Federal Government of Germany.

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    Bulletin d'information sur les glossines et les trypanosomoses
    Année 2000 | Volume 23 | Partie 3
    2000
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    Book (stand-alone)
    Yearbook
    FAO Yearbook of Forest Products 2001 2003
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    The FAO Yearbook of Forest Products is a compilation of statistical data on basic forest products for all countries and territories of the world. It contains series of annual data on the volume of production and the volume and value of trade in forest products. It includes tables showing direction of trade and average unit values of trade for certain products. Statistical information in the yearbook is based primarily on data provided to the FAO Forestry Department by the countries through quest ionnaires or official publications. In the absence of official data, FAO makes an estimate based on the best information available.
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    Book (series)
    Flagship
    The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021
    Transforming food systems for food security, improved nutrition and affordable healthy diets for all
    2021
    In recent years, several major drivers have put the world off track to ending world hunger and malnutrition in all its forms by 2030. The challenges have grown with the COVID-19 pandemic and related containment measures. This report presents the first global assessment of food insecurity and malnutrition for 2020 and offers some indication of what hunger might look like by 2030 in a scenario further complicated by the enduring effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also includes new estimates of the cost and affordability of healthy diets, which provide an important link between the food security and nutrition indicators and the analysis of their trends. Altogether, the report highlights the need for a deeper reflection on how to better address the global food security and nutrition situation.To understand how hunger and malnutrition have reached these critical levels, this report draws on the analyses of the past four editions, which have produced a vast, evidence-based body of knowledge of the major drivers behind the recent changes in food security and nutrition. These drivers, which are increasing in frequency and intensity, include conflicts, climate variability and extremes, and economic slowdowns and downturns – all exacerbated by the underlying causes of poverty and very high and persistent levels of inequality. In addition, millions of people around the world suffer from food insecurity and different forms of malnutrition because they cannot afford the cost of healthy diets. From a synthesized understanding of this knowledge, updates and additional analyses are generated to create a holistic view of the combined effects of these drivers, both on each other and on food systems, and how they negatively affect food security and nutrition around the world.In turn, the evidence informs an in-depth look at how to move from silo solutions to integrated food systems solutions. In this regard, the report proposes transformative pathways that specifically address the challenges posed by the major drivers, also highlighting the types of policy and investment portfolios required to transform food systems for food security, improved nutrition, and affordable healthy diets for all. The report observes that, while the pandemic has caused major setbacks, there is much to be learned from the vulnerabilities and inequalities it has laid bare. If taken to heart, these new insights and wisdom can help get the world back on track towards the goal of ending hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition in all its forms.