Private-public partnerships are key to agrifood systems transformation

Tashkent – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is encouraging private-sector investments and private-public partnerships to make agrifood systems more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable, Director-General QU Dongyu today told the Partnerships and Investment Forum in Tashkent.

The forum brought together representatives from the public and private sectors. Uzbekistan’s Minister for Agriculture, Ibrokhim Abdurakhmanov, also delivered opening remarks as the meeting’s host.

The underlying aim remains the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG1 (No Poverty), SDG2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG10 (Reduced Inequalities).

This requires strong political will, concrete actions, targeted investments and strategic partnerships, Qu said in his opening remarks.

Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) such as Uzbekistan face particular challenges due to their geography, especially high transportation, logistics, and infrastructure costs.

By leveraging the strengths and resources of a wide range of partners, LLDCS can overcome structural constraints, enhance their agricultural productivity, and achieve economic growth.

Governments and policymakers can assist private sector investments in agrifood systems by providing a supportive environment that is stable, predictable, and inclusive.

FAO, for its part, is working closely with a wide range of partners to mobilize private sector investment by attracting and channelling targeted investments based on science and evidence-based information showing where investment is needed the most and where it will have impact at scale, Qu said.

Examples of initiatives that FAO presented at the 5-6 September 2024 International Forum on Land Locked Developing Countries include its Hand-in-Hand Initiative, a country-owned and country-led initiative prioritizing the most vulnerable countries, including LLDCs.

October’s Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum will see LLDCs present their investment plans to international financial institutions, the private sector, and resource partners, Qu said.

Another instrument presented at the forum is the Public-private partnerships in the agrifood sector – referred to as Agri PPPS.

The benefits of Agri PPPs include pooling resources to reduce risks, while increasing productivity and economic growth. Agri PPPs are particularly relevant to LLDCs, where governments face limited resources and expertise.

FAO and the Investment Centre

The Director-General noted that 2024 is an important year for FAO as it marks the 60th Anniversary of the FAO Investment Centre’s partnership with the World Bank.

By connecting Members and financial partners, the FAO Investment Centre applies the knowledge and expertise of the Organization to support an enabling environment for effective policy and investments.

Since its establishment, the Centre has increased the number and range of partners, and in July this year, FAO committed to two major partnership initiatives that are crucial to transforming agrifood systems in developing countries, including LLDCs. These are the G20 Global Alliance against Poverty and Hunger - for which the support mechanism will be hosted at FAO and in Brasilia; and the Global Partnership for the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils initiative (VACS), which seeks to build resilient agrifood systems grounded in diverse, nutritious, and climate-adapted crops grown in healthy, fertile soils.

FAO is committed to continuing working with all partners for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind – including in the LLDCs, Qu told the forum.