The South Asian Policy Leadership for Improved Nutrition and Growth (SAPLING) is a regional platform led by the World Bank Group to accelerate the transformation of resilient, nutrition-focused food systems across South Asia.
SAPLING convenes governments, private sector actors, innovators, researchers, and development partners to advance policy reform, mobilize investment, and scale technology and innovation that strengthen food systems, improve nutrition outcomes, and enhance climate resilience.
Aligned with the World Bank Group’s AgriConnect initiative, SAPLING serves as a regional engagement and partnership platform that supports greater private sector participation in food system value chains and helps unlock investment for sustainable growth. Through its three thematic pillars, SAPLING fosters dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge exchange, enabling countries to identify and advance scalable, investment-ready, and innovation-driven solutions for the future of food systems in South Asia.
SAPLING actively leverages knowledge-building, dialogue, and dissemination as tools to bridge the gap between research and action.
In partnership with a growing network of allies and collaborators, SAPLING curates and shares knowledge through:
Flagship knowledge exchange through the Nexus of Food, Nutrition, and Climate Change Knowledge Exchange Series — a joint World Bank and FAO global online platform for policymakers, fostering dialogue, sharing best practices, and championing integrated, scalable solutions across South Asia's agrifood systems.
SAPLING convenes high-impact events that inform policy, spotlight local innovations with the potential to scale and transfer across borders and connect decision-makers across the region. These multi-sectoral exchanges help drive momentum for continued dialogue, learning, and the cross-pollination of solutions throughout South Asia.
Unlocking Value: Advancing Food Processing for Employment Generation and Sustainable Growth in South Asia
On June 9–10, 2026, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, the SAPLING 2026 High-Level Policy Dialogue, co-hosted by the World Bank Group and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, will bring together leaders from government, industry, and development partners to advance solutions for jobs, private sector growth, and investment in South Asia’s food systems.
Aligned with the World Bank Group’s AgriConnect initiative, the dialogue will focus on strengthening links between farms, firms, and finance to unlock food processing as a driver of growth and resilience.
The event will also feature an Innovation Fair and an optional site visit showcasing food processing solutions in action.
From Waste to Wealth: SAPLING at World Food India 2025
Precision agriculture in action: SenzAgro’s advanced technology optimizes greenhouse plant growth with real-time monitoring and data-driven insights. Photo courtesy of SenzAgro.
On September 26, 2025, SAPLING convened a regional session at World Food India in New Delhi, bringing together leaders from Bhutan, India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka to address South Asia’s food loss and waste challenge, where up to 40% of food is lost each year.
Beyond Waste: Optimizing Food, Water, and Energy for Better Nutrition in South Asia
Photo credit: Orapin Joyphuem / Shutterstock
In June 2025, SAPLING convened a high-level regional dialogue in Colombo, hosted by the Government of Sri Lanka and the World Bank, bringing together South Asian leaders to address food loss and waste as a driver of food security, climate resilience, and inclusive growth.
The dialogue extended beyond the event through a televised panel, “Turning Food Waste into Wealth,” showcasing innovation and entrepreneurship. A parallel trade workshop emphasized regional cooperation, smarter border systems, and public-private partnerships to strengthen food systems and reduce losses.
World Food India 2024: Regional Dialogue on Food Systems for Enhanced Nutrition
At World Food India 2024, the SAPLING initiative brought together participants from across South Asia to discuss how food systems can better deliver improved nutrition outcomes. The dialogue highlighted both the challenges and opportunities facing the region, where many people depend on small-scale farming for their livelihoods, placing significant pressure on food systems, while high levels of malnutrition persist. At the same time, South Asia holds strong opportunities, including a young and growing population, diverse agricultural production, and a vibrant ecosystem of agri-entrepreneurs.
Regional partnerships and knowledge-sharing can help countries learn from each other and scale successful approaches
SAPLING engages a broad spectrum of stakeholders across South Asia, including:
Country governments
Regional cooperation bodies (SAARC, BIMSTEC)
Development partners, including multilateral and bilateral agencies and philanthropic foundations
Private sector actors, including global, national, and regional associations, chambers, and investors
Civil society, including NGOs, CSOs, INGOs, and youth organizations focused on nutrition and agrifood systems
Think-tanks, and academic and research institutions
By fostering partnerships across this diverse ecosystem of partners, SAPLING bridges silos and builds collective capacity to shape forward-looking policies for food systems transformation in South Asia.
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