Sustainable Agriculture Finance Track

Global food demand is estimated to increase by 70% until 2050, and at least USD 80 billion annual investments in food value chains will be required in response, according to the World Bank. And agriculture is not only important for food security but also for employment, inclusive economic growth and the environment. Despite this immense relevance farming is grossly under-served by financial institutions, worldwide.

In the Sustainable Agriculture Finance Track we will look at both sides of the finance equation: demand and supply. What do farmers and agribusinesses need in terms of financial services, and what can financial institutions offer? The focus will be on smallholder farmers and sustainable agriculture in emerging markets. We will look at various practical examples how financial institutions can help to improve farm productivity and farmer incomes, labour conditions in the sector, the management of farm and supply chain risks, food security and safety, adaptation to climate change, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants, as well as biodiversity. In terms of financial services, the sessions will concentrate on credit, insurance, value chain finance, and digital solutions.

Registrations for the 2024 Summer Academy are now open. 

Spaces for the programme are limited! Register today to book your place.

Learning Objectives:

• Gain basic knowledge of sustainable agriculture (concept, approaches, farm practices).
• Get deep insight into various ways how financial institutions can help to improve the economic, social and environmental performance of farms and food supply chains.
• Deepen your understanding of business models for SAF and the various financial instruments used in these models.
• Become familiar with real-life examples of SAF in different regions of the world.

Site Visit

On the morning of tuesday 9 July, participants will visit one of Germany’s oldest organic farms near the city of Frankfurt. We will walk through the fields and stables, thus learning about organic crop and animal production practices. In addition, we will visit the on-farm milk processing facility and the farm shop.

Trend Elective

The trend elective opens up the whole Summer Academy for all participants. Network and engage with participants from other tracks while taking a deeper diver into further topics that matter to you, outside of your selected track. This year, we will explore:

- Robo Investing

- Refugee Financing 

- Impactful Innovation

- Climate Risk Management

- Adaptation Planning

*Agenda is subject to change and confirmation

The Summer Academy will cater to a wide range of finance professionals from commercial banks, microfinance institutions, central banks and regulatory/government institutions, development organisations, and donor agencies.

The main target audience of this track are professionals working in financial institutions that already provide agricultural finance or intend to do so. In addition, the track will be useful for professionals working in the field of agricultural or rural finance in donor agencies, development and impact investment organizations, consultancy firms, regulatory institutions, and policy related bodies. .