Farming and Agribusiness

Farming and agribusiness do more than just feed people. They power economic growth and reduce poverty. The food sector supports millions of jobs on the farm and has the potential to create many more across the supply chain, from production and processing to transport, trade and retail.

The food sector matters because:

In every economy, good nutrition underpins health, learning, and productivity.

Over 300 million people around the world go hungry every day, while 2.8 billion can’t afford a healthy meal.

The demand for food is expected to increase by 30% between now and 2050. This is an opportunity to create better-paying jobs while feeding people.

In many countries today, the sector isn’t producing food efficiently or distributing it evenly. Lack of infrastructure, counterproductive policies, and financial risk continue to constrain the industry’s growth. At the same time, conflict, economic shocks, and extreme weather are disrupting production and markets.

The World Bank Group is the largest funder of farming and agribusiness in developing countries, providing the knowledge, investment and technology so they can turn their food sectors into engines of growth and opportunity.

The World Bank Group has helped strengthen food and nutrition security for over 200 million people and aims to reach 327 million people by 2030.

The World Bank has $24 billion currently invested in farming and agribusiness, alongside $6 billion in IFC commitments.
Our collective agribusiness financing will double to $9 billion annually by 2030. Through AgriConnect, we aim to reach 300 million farmers by 2030.

We are supporting over 40 countries repurpose their existing agricultural support to achieve better outcomes – from healthier soils to more efficient distribution of seeds and fertilizer.

The World Bank Group works with a range of partners across farming and agribusiness, including governments, the private sector, farmers’ organizations, development partners, think tanks and civil society organizations. In addition, our work is supported by the following trust funds and programs:

Food Systems 2030 is a World Bank–hosted Multi-Donor Trust Fund helping countries transform food systems to end poverty and hunger by 2030. It promotes healthy people, a healthy planet, and strong economies through policy advice, financing, and partnerships that drive sustainable, climate-smart, and innovative food system transformation.

The Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP), launched by the G20 after the 2007–08 food crisis, improves food and nutrition security in the world’s poorest countries. It funds demand-driven projects with grants, concessional finance, and technical assistance to build sustainable, resilient agriculture and transform food systems at scale.

The Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration (FOLUR) Global Platform, led by the World Bank and financed by the Global Environment Facility, promotes sustainable and healthy landscapes for global food production. It supports sustainable practices across major commodities.

Farming and Agribusiness Contact

Nicolas Douillet
ndouillet@worldbankgroup.org