FAO's Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum opens with a record 20.16 billion dollars in proposals

International Report Agriculture & Rural Economy & Banking

FAO's Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum opens with a record 20.16 billion dollars in proposals

13 October 2026

The Food and Agriculture Organization opened its Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum with a record 20.16 billion US dollars in proposed agrifood investments.
The four-day event is part of the World Food Forum, a platform for transforming agrifood systems through youth, science and innovation, and investment.
FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said building resilience requires sustained investment in agrifood systems but too many opportunities are untapped because of high risks.
The proposed investments span staple crops, livestock, fisheries and high-value commodities such as coffee and cocoa.
The opening session featured a panel moderated by FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero with the agriculture ministers of Bhutan, Jordan, Mozambique and Tajikistan.
The Hand-in-Hand model brings together four pillars: governments, FAO, international financial institutions and private investors.

Proposed investments: US$ 20.16 billion FAO Director-General: QU Dongyu FAO Chief Economist: Maximo Torero Duration: Four days

Why it matters for exams: FAO initiatives, their heads and headline investment figures are common in agriculture and international organisation questions.

Kerala PSCUPSC

13 October 2026 Source: Food and Agriculture Organization

In plain words

FAO Food and Agriculture Organization — The UN specialised agency for food security and agriculture, headquartered in Rome.

Hand-in-Hand Initiative FAO Hand-in-Hand Initiative — A country-led, data-driven FAO programme to identify and finance agrifood investment priorities.