Prioritizing Financing for Food Systems Transformation: Options and Trade-offs

Transforming global food systems to become more sustainable, resilient, nutritious, and equitable requires a fundamental reorientation of financial policy and investment priorities, particularly in the context of growing fiscal constraints and environmental pressures. This high-level side event, convened by CGIAR, will examine policy and funding pathways for aligning public and private capital with food systems transformation in low- and middle-income countries.

The session will open with the presentation of new CGIAR research that offers a decision-making framework to guide strategic investment in science, innovation, and institutional capacity. It will then turn to a policy-driven discussion on leveraging alternative financing instruments, including the repurposing of agricultural subsidies, the mobilization of private-sector value chain finance, and the development of capital market and blended finance tools. Special attention will be given to how non-traditional partnerships and financial innovation can be harnessed to scale up context-specific solutions, while ensuring coherence with national development strategies and global commitments such as the post-SDG Agenda, the Pact for Future and the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034.

A dynamic panel discussion will follow, featuring insights from multilateral development banks (MDBs), development finance institutions, impact investors, and government leaders. The panel will critically examine the trade-offs and synergies across financing approaches, with particular attention to the catalytic role MDBs can play in de-risking investments, aligning capital flows with national priorities, and scaling innovations in food systems. The discussion will address how blended finance, public-private co-investment models, and targeted policy interventions can be structured to maximize development impact. By unpacking the institutional, financial, and governance dimensions of food systems financing, the session aims to provide actionable guidance for policymakers and financial actors seeking to deploy capital effectively and equitably in support of sustainable food system transformation.

Event objectives / details: To explore different financing mechanisms for food system transformation in an environment with increasingly scarce resources, highlight the inherent trade-offs, and identify pathways for effective and impactful investment.

16:30 – 16:40

Welcome and Opening Remarks 

• Moderator:
• Opening remarks / (7 minutes)

16:40 – 17:00

Setting the Stage with CGIAR Research for Investment Showcase 

• • A framework for prioritizing food systems investments with results for 10+ countries
  • Repurposing subsidies to fund food system transformation?
  • Innovative financing and non-traditional partnerships to support the scaling of science-backed innovations
  • The role of capital markets and blended finance for food system transformation

17:00 – 17:40

Panel Discussion: Exploring Financing Options and Trade-offs 

• Panelists:
  • Development Finance Institution (DFI) Representative: To discuss their role in prioritizing investments and providing large-scale financing for sustainable agriculture and food systems.
  • Impact Investor: To share insights on mobilizing private capital for impact, navigating trade-offs between financial returns and development outcomes for food system transformation.
  • Government Representative (from a developing country, ideally Minister of Finance and/or Agriculture): To discuss national strategies for financing food system transformation, policy incentives, and the role of public-private partnerships.

17:40 – 17:55

Interactive Q&A with the Audience 

17:55 – 18:00

Closing Remarks and Call to Action

Registration