A record $20.16 billion in proposed agrifood investments is on the table in Rome, where representatives from 38 countries and five regional initiatives gathered at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations headquarters for the 2026 Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum. The four-day event is part of the World Food Forum, a global platform focused on improving food systems through youth, science, innovation and investment.
The proposals target some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. They cover staple crops, livestock and fisheries, as well as higher-value products such as coffee and cocoa. The goal is to strengthen supply chains, raise productivity and improve livelihoods in places where needs are greatest and investments could have the most impact. Together, this year’s proposed projects could benefit 117.8 million people, making the forum its largest yet. In 2025, governments presented investment cases worth $17.3 billion.
FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said many promising projects struggle to attract money because investors lack reliable information and clear plans, while risks can be high. “Building resilience requires sustained investment in agrifood systems but too many opportunities are untapped because of high risks,” he said. The Hand-in-Hand approach aims to help close that gap by bringing governments, FAO, international financial institutions and private investors together. Governments set priorities, FAO supplies data and technical advice, development institutions help manage early risks, and private investors can provide capital to expand projects.
The initiative uses detailed maps, economic models and other analysis to identify places and industries where investment may do the most good. Its research considers factors including climate risks, soil health, roads and other infrastructure, market access, poverty and local economic conditions. That evidence can help turn a country’s goals into projects that lenders and investors can assess.
Since 2022, the initiative has helped countries develop 387 investment cases worth $47.26 billion, with the potential to benefit more than 338 million people. Of that total, $7.88 billion in financing has been committed or is under negotiation. The program now includes 87 countries. Some projects have already moved forward: Ecuador has mobilized more than $300 million since 2022 for Hand-in-Hand agrifood projects, with another $100 million under negotiation through the World Bank-funded AGRICONNECT programme. Nepal has reported $304 million in committed financing and a further $160 million under negotiation.
At the Rome forum, government representatives, businesses, development banks and foundations are meeting to discuss financing, reduce investment risks and build partnerships. The projects range from commercializing yak cheese in Nepal, kava in Tonga and cinnamon in Sri Lanka to expanding honey exports in Cuba, cocoa in Haiti, red meat in Madagascar and avocados in Angola. Ghana is presenting a $1.2 billion portfolio that includes cassava and soybean production.
The meetings are designed to help move country-led plans from preparation toward financing and implementation. The size of this year’s proposals shows the scale of interest, while the committed and negotiated funding from earlier projects offers a practical measure of progress. The next test will be turning the plans presented in Rome into investments that deliver stronger food systems and better livelihoods.