The issue:

Making sustainable agri-food a reality requires a structural transformation in the economies of low- and middle-income countries, moving from production of primary agricultural products to value addition. Not only will this make food systems more resilient but also make them more durable and sustainable. Policy frameworks must be created and implemented to drive real change.  

Despite being aware of the technological and knowledge requirements,  financial and political commitments have yet to lead to sustainable outcomes. In the context of the current polycrisis and economic situation, it is clear that there is a need to convene and operationalize new multi-stakeholder partnerships that can conceptualize and help implement structural transformations.  

Needless to say, governments play a fundamental role in creating enabling environments for agri-food systems through policies, regulations, and investments in infrastructure. The private sector, on the other hand, can drive innovation, efficiency, and investment in sustainable practices. Development partners and academia contribute by providing research, technical expertise, and funding. Creating multi-stakeholder partnerships involves dialogue and the delineation of clear and achievable goals and objectives, with buy-in from all stakeholders and fostering a win-win situation for all concerned. The financing gap to transform food systems remains significant, highlighting the mismatch between current financial instruments and the needs of agri-businesses. 

While existing technologies have the potential to address food security challenges, their adoption and adaptation to local contexts is crucial. Effective dissemination of best practices and innovations, based on pilot initiatives, can reduce risks and help make the leap from knowledge to purposive action. However, policy implementation built on international agreements often falls short, and requires a stronger focus on joint execution and coordination among various stakeholders. 

Another challenge is that the available financial resources are not sufficient to power the desired transformation of food systems. Current financing modalities are unsuitable due to their time and resource-consumption, lack of scalability or their efficiency. Simultaneously, industry must come forward to create innovative financing modalities, such as blended finance, impact investing, and green bonds, to mobilize additional resources and align financial flows with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). If properly implemented, these instruments can attract private investment by mitigating risks and enhancing returns, which would go some way towards financing the structural transformation of food systems. These financial instruments should be accessible for smallholders and scalable to reach the intended impact.  

Finally, initiatives like the G7’s Apulia Food Systems Initiative or the G20’s Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty are steps in the right direction, offering financial or technical support for implementing proven policies that combat hunger and poverty. However, these commitments require robust follow-up and strong coordination through multi-stakeholder platforms to ensure efficient utilization of resources. Achieving sustainable food security and ending hunger by 2030, as outlined in SDG 2, requires a holistic approach through multi-stakeholder partnerships with active and continued participation of governments, the private sector, development partners, and academia. 

Objectives:

Multi-stakeholder partnerships will play a key role in financing agri-food system transformation and achieving progress towards sustainable food security. Part of the problem is that financial instruments and initiatives do not always produce the expected outcomes in support of agri-businesses. This action-oriented session aims to showcase some new partnerships and solutions that would help raise the funding required to end hunger. Accordingly, the session will: 

• Discuss the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach with the representation of all concerned actors; 

• Identify new opportunities for future multi-stakeholder and action-oriented partnerships. The discussion will aim to identify shared principles which can provide common objectives creating a win-win situation for all; 

• Highlight innovative financing solutions which could assist in overcoming current financing gaps and improve agri-business development opportunities, contributing to sustainable agri-food systems and enhanced food trade.  

Session format and structure:

This moderated panel discussion will allow decision-makers from governments, international financial institutions, philanthropic organizations and industry to engage in an effort to create coordinated action by all stakeholders for successful fund mobilization to enhance food security. It aims to provide recommendations for action by decision-makers to ensure the efficiency of these partnerships. 

Moderator

Panelists