Food security: meeting the global challenge

Addressing global food security

The EBRD’s Private Sector for Food Security Initiative aims to help to address the global challenge of food security by promoting greater involvement of the private sector.

The new Initiative will facilitate private sector investments to increase food production by enabling a better business environment through policy dialogue, technical assistance and global coordination.

Supply and trade

The “Private Sector for Food Security” initiative places a strong emphasis on the supply and trade side of the food equation.  The programme helps by addressing bottle necks along the food value chain,

matching food supply and demand and contributing to private-public sector dialogue to increase food production.

Private sector collaboration

Private sector involvement is key to unlocking the agricultural potential in such countries as Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan – three producer nations that could supply half the world’s grain needs if they realised their production potential.  The programme will help introduce pre- and post-harvest financing mechanisms and improved trade logistics for importers and exporters.

The southern and eastern Mediterranean

The Private Sector for Food Security Initiative will also be important in the southern and eastern Mediterranean region, including such countries as Egypt, the world’s largest importer of wheat.  The Initiative will help increasing water and energy efficiency in food production aiming at producing “more food per drop” of water and fertilizer.

Water

In its traditional region of activity, the EBRD is the largest investor in the agribusiness sector. The EBRD has been active on the food security front by organising regional and country focused events aimed at improving the dialogue between commercial investors and the authorities that are responsible for providing the legislation and regulation that can improve the environment for private sector financing.