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GDPRD Report · October 2026 · Cover

Financing Agrifood Investment at Scale: Opportunities and Challenges

GDPRD report — October 2026 edition.

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Authors: Jim Woodhill, Mandakini D. Surie, Kristal Jones, Monique Amar and Sierra Berardelli · Version: October 2026

Contents

Acknowledgements

Executive summary

1 · Introduction

2 · Challenges and costs

2.1 The hidden costs of agrifood systems 2.2 The estimated costs of financing agrifood systems transfo…2.3 Challenges 2.4 Repurposing Agricultural Support 2.5 Addressing private sector investment challenges 2.6 The critical role of ODA, the challenge of donor coordina…

3 · Understanding development finance

3.1 The basics of financing 3.2 Development finance institutions 3.3 Development finance instruments and mechanisms

4 · Sources and scale of financing

4.1 Funding from: official development assistance and other o…4.2 Funding from development finance institutions 4.3 National government budgets 4.4 Private sector investment in the agrifood sector 4.5 Blended finance 4.6 Climate finance

5 · Innovative and blended mechanisms

5.1 Examples of innovative financing mechanisms and funds 5.2 An emerging agrifood systems financing ecosystem 5.3 Reflections on the state of innovative financing

6 · Ways forward

6.1 Shifting the narrative 6.2 Mitigating risk in the agrifood sector 6.3 Tackling the last mile of smallholder and SME finance 6.4 Tackling structural constraints 6.5 Scaling up innovative and blended finance mechanisms 6.6 Accessing climate finance 6.7 Disentangling social protection, fragile contexts and com…6.8 Enhancing an integrated agrifood systems financing ecosystem 6.9 Supporting effective target-setting, monitoring, and repo…6.10 Harnessing and optimising the potential of innovations a…

7 · Conclusion

References and resources

Cover

Financing Agrifood Investment at Scale OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

Authors: Jim Woodhill, Mandakini D. Surie, Kristal Jones, Monique Amar and Sierra Berardelli Version: October 2026

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About this report

Financing Agrifood Investment at Scale: Opportunities and Challenges is published by the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development (GDPRD). Authors: Jim Woodhill, Mandakini D. Surie, Kristal Jones, Monique Amar and Sierra Berardelli. Version: October 2026.

Download the full report (PDF)

Global Donor Platform for Rural Development

The GDPRD is a network of donors, international financial institutions and development agencies working together to catalyse inclusive and sustainable rural development.

www.donorplatform.org