Rome - The Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum 2026 opened today at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with 38 countries and five regional initiatives presenting a record $20.16 billion in proposed agrifood investments.
The four-day event is part of the World Food Forum (WFF), a global platform that drives action to transform agrifood systems through the power of youth, science and innovation, and investment. Through bilateral meetings, participants - government representatives, private companies, development banks and foundations - will explore financing arrangements, address investment risks, and build partnerships to advance country-led agrifood investment opportunities.
Targeting some of the world's most vulnerable communities, the proposed investments span staple crops, livestock, fisheries, and high-value commodities such as coffee and cocoa. They aim to strengthen value chains, increase productivity and improve livelihoods in areas where needs are greatest and the potential for 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.
In many countries, promising opportunities struggle to attract finance because investors lack the information and credible plans they need, he added.
"Hand-in-Hand is changing how these investments are designed, de-risked and financed," allowing key actors each to contribute what they do best, Qu said.
The opening session featured a panel moderated by FAO Chief Economist Máximo Torero, participated in by the agriculture ministers of Bhutan, Jordan, Mozambique and Tajikistan, along with senior officials from multilateral development banks.
Turning national priorities into investable opportunities
The Investment Forum has been developed through FAO's country-led, data-driven Hand-in-Hand Initiative for identifying and financing agrifood investment priorities to accelerate the transformation of agrifood systems. It offers an innovative, multilayered approach to reducing risks in agrifood investment.
The model brings together four pillars of agrifood investment: governments, FAO, international financial institutions and private investors. Governments set national priorities, FAO provides data and technical expertise, international financial institutions help absorb early losses and private investors bring capital to scale. Each plays a distinct role in overcoming the barriers that have traditionally constrained agrifood investment, from inadequate information and project preparation to financial risks that discourage capital deployment.
As such, Hand-in-Hand addresses a fundamental challenge in agrifood investment: the gap between need and investable opportunity. FAO uses advanced geospatial intelligence, economic modeling, and technical analysis to identify priority territories and value chains where investments can have the greatest impact. The analysis draws on data covering climate risks, soil health, infrastructure, market access, poverty, and socioeconomic conditions, helping countries translate national priorities into viable investment opportunities.
From investment cases to financing
Since 2022, the Hand-in-Hand Initiative has helped countries translate national priorities into 387 investment cases, totaling $47.26 billion, with the potential to benefit more than 338 million people. Of this amount, $7.88 billion in financing has been committed or under negotiation. Participation has expanded to 87 countries.
The Initiative is already delivering tangible results. In Ecuador, for example, more than $300 million has been mobilized since 2022 to implement Hand-in-Hand agrifood investment projects, with a further $100 million 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 Investment Forum, with $20.16 billion in proposed investments and potential beneficiary of 117.8 million people, is the largest yet. In 2025, governments pitched investment cases for $17.3 billion.
A platform for countries
The Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum provides a platform for countries to present their investment priorities directly to multilateral development banks and private investors, building partnerships to move projects from planning toward implementation. Through bilateral meetings, participants explore financing arrangements, address investment risks, and build partnerships to advance country-led agrifood investment opportunities.
This year's investment cases range from commercializing yak cheese in Nepal, kava in Tonga and cinnamon in Sri Lanka to expanding the production and export of honey in Cuba, cocoa in Haiti, red meat in Madagascar and avocados in Angola.
Ghana is presenting a $1.2 billion investment portfolio covering cassava and soybean production, poultry, soybean and rice processing. They would create 250,000 jobs, boost food security and reduce import dependence.
Another example is Colombia, which is presenting a $75.3 million investment portfolio to develop an agro-industrial and logistics center for smallholder farmers in Boyacá and promote sustainable livestock production in Córdoba. They would potentially benefit 22,000 producers and families directly.
In Asia, the Philippines is presenting a $57.4 million investment portfolio covering coffee, seaweed, mango, jackfruit, and cocoa, aimed at boosting rural incomes, strengthening food security, and expanding access to international markets.
Along with country-led projects, addition, the forum will feature five regional initiatives covering Amazonia, Pacific SIDS 2026, African SIDS 2026, Dry Corridor and Arid Zones, Pacific SIDS 2026, and Southern Africa. They focus on priorities ranging from traceability for non-timber forest products and blue transformation to biosecurity, pest management, irrigation and agricultural mechanization.
Each investment is supported with a financial pitch deck containing economic profiles, including expected rates of return, and sustainability indicators such as their expected impact on greenhouse gas emissions.
The Forum also features special events on the Lobito Corridor and Haiti.
Additional thematic sessions cover innovative financing, livestock transformation pathways, the Central Asia Breadbasket Initiative, blue transformation trends, coffee value chains, opportunities for cocoa farmers to capture a greater share of chocolate's value, and artificial intelligence. A networking reception hosted by the Director-General with representatives of the private sector will take place in the evening.
